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Column break within numbered list

Hello,

It seems a shame I can't get cells in a table automatically numbered in columns (1,2,3,4,5,6,7 down the left column, then 8,9,10,11 down the second col etc) but having looked everywhere I see I can only manually number each column then "continue numbering" at the top of the second column.

I want to write some maths exercises. So I have tried numbering.

I have a list of questions (as 2010 "Equation" objects) numbered from 1 -24.

So I formatted the doc as 3 columns, added a column break after Q8 and Q16, but alas I then get a paragraph mark at the top of each column.

So instead of columns which align nicely I get:

1
2 9 17
3 10 18
4 11 19
5 12 20
6 13 21
7 14 22
8 15 23
16 24


I can't believe it's SO HARD to get numbering in columns to work. I know how to number in rows (Word's default if I put the list in a table), but this is hardly a bizarre request

Here's what I get (and although it doesn't say so, I *do* have a column break after expression 8.) 

http://mrstevensonmaths.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/factorise-the-following-where-possible.docx

*and* when I then add a section break after Q24 to add a set of other questions called set B) it goes and puts Q24 (the number of that question) in italics!! What's *that* all about?

Thanks for any help you can offer!
Rob

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To make the paragraph marks invisible, do the following: Select each paragraph mark and format it with line spacing "Exactly" 1 point, font size 1 point, zero spacing before and after. You may even add hidden formatting if you wish. You can create a style with these characteristics to quickly "hide" any blank paragraph causing trouble.

To show/hide paragraph marks (¶) as well as other nonprinting marks, click the ¶ button on the Home tab.
Stefan Blom
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Thanks very much Stefan, that looks like a good idea (I'm the OP).  A bit of a kludge though!  Why I get an extra blank line by default is beyond me...

Alas when I apply it and edit a little, some numbers in the auto numbering disappear & no amount of removing numbers, cutting pasting will seem to bring them back.  It's much worse!!

The version where I apply the fix you suggest is now uploaded at

http://mrstevensonmaths.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/factorise-the-following-where-possible1.docx

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  • Click the ¶ on the Home tab to turn on the formatting marks.  Click in item 8 and press the right arrow to move the insertion point out of the Content Control. Then press Enter. 
  • Repeat for item 16.
  • Put the cursor in the paragraph now numbered item 9.   Press space and delete the paragraph mark  (¶).
  • Repeat for item 17.

  • Press Enter to place a second paragraph mark after item 24.  Insert the continuous break before the second Enter symbol.

The key, here, is to insert the breaks after the returns instead of before. 


Pamelia Caswell

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Thanks very much Pam, that works a treat (I'm the OP).  I see that I need the space at the new Q9 and Q17 otherwise those questions jump in.  Again strange behaviour.

Very kind of you to help!

Rob

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Hi, Rob,

Yes, I noticed that too.   And you're welcome.



Pamelia Caswell

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Since adding a column break doesn't force Word to also insert a paragraph mark, you may not always be successful in manually removing the paragraph mark, without losing paragraph formatting (such as indentation) that is.

A similar problem used to exist for page breaks, and the situation was improved in Word 2007 when Word started to add a paragraph mark with the break. This is reflected in the compatibility option to "Split apart page break and paragraph mark" which was added to Word 2007 and 2010. (Word 2013 is different in the sense that it only offers a limited set of compatibility options.)
Stefan Blom
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~~~
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And if the issue is with "Spacing Before," which is not suppressed after a column break, then the solution might be to format the numbered items with Spacing After instead.
Microsoft MVP (Word) since 1999
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Screen shots captured with TechSmith's Snagit

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The spaces Rob and I are talking about are the ones after the item number at the top of the second and third columns, as shown in column two below:

Image


Without the space, the text and content controls behave as shown in the third column--complete with the second item in the column duplicated.  I tried adjusting the paragraph alignment and indent, the number indents, and even removed the paragraph alignment formatting from the equations themselves.  Nothing worked except adding or putting back the space.  

I'm guessing this is related to the content control because no such issues arise when I used regular text lists.   I'd say it's a bug.





Pamelia Caswell

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I didn't see any duplicate numbering as in your screenshot. The paragraph before and after the column break will be treated as the same, with one numbered and one unnumbered.


Image

Stefan Blom
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https://mvp.microsoft.com/
~~~
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You haven't fixed anything yet.  Follow my steps through "Put the cursor in the paragraph now numbered item 9.   Press space and delete the paragraph mark  (¶)."   You won't be able to delete that space without misaligning  item 9.
Pamelia Caswell

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Last updated March 30, 2025 Views 1,806 Applies to: