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Multilevel List Linked Styles

All,

I followed Shauna Kelly's excellent tutorial on making multilevel lists and linking the lists to preformatted heading styles, though after I reread her article, I realized I didn't apply a heading style to every single level available since I wasn't planning on using all of them (I went down to 3 originally, then down to 6 later in the document). When I go back to make changes to my multilevel list numbering, the styles associated with the levels I did format don't appear to be there anymore. The numbering appears to work correctly, but only down to a certain level (usually 5 deep or so), when it reverts to the default numbering scheme. Was the original failure to connect heading styles to numbering the issue, or is it something else?

If this is unclear, please let me know and I'll explain more clearly.
Although others have advised you can revise such a list style, I have always recreated if I need more levels. In the past five years, I have always done 9 levels even if I only plan on using 3. It is not hard to do when you set the template up and do-overs are a pain.

I think you get the pain. I would recommend doing a new definition in a separate template and transferring to your current document. You could do this either with the Organizer or by attaching the document to the template with the option checked to update styles. (You later want to uncheck that option, though.)
Volunteering to "pay forward" the help I've received in the Microsoft user community.

Charles Kenyon
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
wordfaq[at]addbalance[dot]com

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I think you should be able to edit the list provided you:

  1. Place the insertion point in the first Level 1 head before opening the Define New Multilevel List dialog.
  2. Visit each level in turn and link it to a heading style.
Microsoft MVP (Word) since 1999
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All,

I followed Shauna Kelly's excellent tutorial on making multilevel lists and linking the lists to preformatted heading styles, though after I reread her article, I realized I didn't apply a heading style to every single level available since I wasn't planning on using all of them (I went down to 3 originally, then down to 6 later in the document). When I go back to make changes to my multilevel list numbering, the styles associated with the levels I did format don't appear to be there anymore. The numbering appears to work correctly, but only down to a certain level (usually 5 deep or so), when it reverts to the default numbering scheme. Was the original failure to connect heading styles to numbering the issue, or is it something else?

If this is unclear, please let me know and I'll explain more clearly.

No, it really doesn't matter if you only  format/change a few levels--except that if, as you found, if you do need to use them, you'll have to modify the list style.  And you must, as Suzanne says,  place the cursor in the first heading 1 (aka first numbering level) instance in your document before clicking the Multilevel List icon and then right clicking your list style's badge and left clicking Modify. 

By the way, if you clicked Define New Multilevel List, you created a new list that is not connected to the list style you created by following Shauna Kelly's instructions.
Pamelia Caswell

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Does it make any difference if there is text prior to the first Level 1 heading? It's a section of front matter in a completely different style. I tried your suggestion but the linked headings are still vanishing. It's becoming a problem after I get to Level 4 and below. I actually have to tab over to get Level 4 to look the way I want, applies the correct formatting per the multilevel list style.

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As long as you click in the very first level 1 paragraph (meaning the first Heading 1 paragraph if you have associated numbering with the built-in headings) before accessing the multilevel list dialog box, what comes before the first level 1 number makes no difference.

When are the linked headings "vanishing," by the way? When/if you revisit the dialog box? Or are you saying that promoting/demoting the list doesn't apply the correct style?
Stefan Blom
MS 365 Word MVP since 2005
Volunteer Moderator
MS 365, Win 11 Pro
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Note that I do not work for Microsoft
https://mvp.microsoft.com/
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Please specify Word version & OS in your question

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When I return to the dialog box, the heading styles I want linked to the numbering scheme are no longer linked. I don't know if this is causing the problem I'm experiencing when I get to Level 4 and below. When I create a Level 1 paragraph and tab over, it automatically turns into a Level 2 paragraph with the correct numbering; same with Level 2 and 3. However, if I continue to tab to what should be Level 4, the level remains at Level 3 but the correct numbering formatting occurs. This will throw a wrench in the works if I create a TOC to Level 3.

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If the problem is with the indentation of the list, change that as well in the multilevel list dialog box.
Stefan Blom
MS 365 Word MVP since 2005
Volunteer Moderator
MS 365, Win 11 Pro
~~~
Note that I do not work for Microsoft
https://mvp.microsoft.com/
~~~
Please specify Word version & OS in your question

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The multilevel list is the only place I have attempted to edit the numbering, whether it be style or indentation.

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I can take a look at your document and let you know  what I find and how to fix it.  You can post it to Dropbox or Skydrive and post the link to it or you can email a it (with sensitive information removed) to me here:

pamcaswe at yahoo.com

Pamelia Caswell

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Last updated October 5, 2021 Views 1,956 Applies to: