WD2000: ListNum Changes Numbering Level When Heading Style Applied

When you insert a ListNum field into a document and then apply a heading style to a paragraph before the first ListNum field, the result of the ListNum field is demoted one numbering level below the heading level you applied, rather than retaining the numbering level that was applied when the ListNum field was inserted. For example, the numbering level 1, 2, 3... is demoted to a, b, c... when you apply heading level 1 to the preceding paragraph.

To work around this problem, manually promote or demote the ListNum field to the numbering level you want, using one of the following methods.

Method 1

1. Make the field codes visible by pressing ALT+F9 if they are not already visible.
2. Position the insertion point inside the ListNum field.
3. Click the Decrease Indent button on the Formatting toolbar to promote the value of the ListNum field to a higher numbering level, or click the Increase Indent button on the Formatting toolbar to demote the value of the ListNum field to a lower numbering level.

NOTE: You can also right-click within the ListNum field and then click the Increase Indent or Decrease Indent button on the shortcut menu.

Method 2

1. Make the field codes visible by pressing ALT+F9 if they are not already visible.
2. Modify the number in the ListNum field that is immediately after the \l switch to indicate the numbering level you want. For example, a ListNum field formatted for numbering level 2 appears as {ListNum \l 2}, and a ListNum field formatted for numbering level 3 appears as {ListNum \l 3}.
3. Press ALT+F9 to hide the field codes.
4. Update the field by clicking within the field and then pressing F9.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

For additional information about using the ListNum field, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about the ListNum field, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type field codes: listnum field in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.