WD2000: Numbering Is Reset After You Paste Part of a Series (288169)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q288169
For a Microsoft Word 2002 version of this article, see 288393.
For a Microsoft Word 97 version of this article, see 119128.

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Paste or Paste link option to paste part of a numbered or outline numbered list into a new document that does not contain a numbered list, the numbered list is reset to start at one (1).

NOTE: When you paste the numbered list into a document that already contains a numbered list, the items may be pasted as a different number.

This behavior occurs when you use any of the following:
  • The AUTONUM field

    -or-
  • Any numbered style

    -or-
  • Any outline numbered style

Example 1: Numbered List or AUTONUM Field

If you copy numbered items 3 and 4
  1. Cat
  2. Dog
  3. Bird
  4. Hamster
and use the Paste or Paste link option to paste them into another document, they appear as follows:
  1. Bird
  2. Hamster

Example 2: Outline Numbered

When you use an outline numbered style, if you use the Paste or Paste link option to paste an item, such as item "b. Oranges", the numbering restarts at "a" for the new series. If all of the sublevel is copied, the numbering and indentation level is preserved. If you select all of item 2 in the following example and paste this text to a new document, numbering is reset to 1 for this series.
  1. Fruits
    1. Apples
    2. Oranges
  2. Vegetables
    1. Lettuce
    2. Cabbage
  3. Dairy
    1. Milk
    2. Cheese

CAUSE

This functionality is by design in Microsoft Word. The numbering formats are applied to a paragraph relative to their position in the series. If you copy only a portion of the numbered series, the numbering is reset relative to the new series when you use the Paste or Paste link option.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, select the pasted items, and change the Start at number for the series to the appropriate starting number. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering.
  2. On either the Numbered or the Outline Numbered tab, click Modify.
  3. Change the Start at number to the appropriate number, and then click OK.
NOTE: You cannot restart (reset) the numbering of an AUTONUM field.

For more information about the AUTONUM field, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type autonum in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/17/2001
Keywords:kbprb kbusage KB288169
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.