A question on changing List Levels in Multi-Level Numbering

Question

Hello,

I have occasionally run across this baffling matter regarding auto numbering. I want to understand why this sometimes occurs so I know moving forward what will happen and can explain it to others that I teach. (other than just saying, "if it occurs, then don't use it")

I was able to replicate it in the file whose link is here:

Numbering question.docx

See picture 1 below, when I select the 3 paragraphs and click Increase Indent icon (or press the shortcut Tab key), I don't get what I get most of the time. That the list level would change from level 1 to level 2. What I get is that all 3 paragraphs are indented .25 inches or .5 inches but remain at level 1 numbering. So then I have to undo the indent change, click the Multi-level list button, point to Change List Level and click Level 2. This takes longer.

See picture 2 below, here when I select these 2 paragraphs and click the Increase Indent icon (or press the shortcut tab key), the list level DOES change from level 1 to level 2 which is normally the result I get. So here I would get both paragraphs numbered a. and b.

So should I always use (and teach) that to change list levels in auto numbering mode, to first click the Multi-level list icon, then point to Change List Level, then pick the level needed?

This is more time consuming than using increase/decrease indent or tab/shift tab keys though... Thanks very much for any expert advice or insight!

Craig

Answer 1

When the first item of a list is at the first level, it can't go to a second level because there is no first level item to precede it. It only indents.

Test on the second level, or add more first level lines below the first one.

Answer 2

Sorry, the best answer I can think of is because it's Microsoft. It makes no sense, but that's how it works.

Answer 3

got it...thanks so much for addressing that...!!

Answer 4

As you have noticed, the interface in Word tells you if the paragraph at the insertion point is formatted as a bullet or as a number.

The interface does not tell you that the bullet or number is actually part of a multilevel list, which is confusing.

Answer 5

Indeed, Word is picky about preserving the numbering hierarchy. :-)