A multilevel numbered list changes when you paste a list into a new document in Word

Symptoms

When you create a numbered list in a Microsoft Word document, and the list contains at least two levels of numbering, and you then copy and paste the list to another part of the document, the numbering may change in the child list.

Cause

This behavior may occur when you restart the numbering in a copied list, as in the following example:

1. Start Microsoft Office Word 2003 or Microsoft Word 2002, and then create a new document.

2. On the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering.

3. On the Numbered tab, select the first numbered list format (number followed by a period), and then click OK.

4. Create the following document:
   1. Part 1
   a. This is a
   b. This is b
   c. This is c
   2. Part 2
   a. This is a
   b. This is b
   c. This is c
   3. Part 3
   
   This is separation text.
   

5. Select all of the text, and then on the Edit menu, click Copy.

6. Place the insertion point below the last line of text, and then on the Edit menu, click Paste.
   
   The document now looks similar to the following:
   1. Part 1
   a. This is a
   b. This is b
   c. This is c
   2. Part 2
   a. This is a
   b. This is b
   c. This is c
   3. Part 3
   
   This is separation text.
   
   4. Part 1
   a. This is a
   b. This is b
   c. This is c
   5. Part 2
   a. This is a
   b. This is b
   c. This is c
   6. Part 3
   
   This is separation text.
   Note that the numbered list (as opposed to the lettered list) is restarted at number 4.

7. Select the text next to bullet number 4.

8. On the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering.

9. On the Numbering tab, click Restart Numbering and then click OK. The numbered list resembles the following:
   1. Part 1
   a. This is a
   b. This is b
   c. This is c
   2. Part 2
   a. This is a
   b. This is b
   c. This is c
   3. Part 3
   
   This is separation text.
   
   1. Part 1
   a. This is a
   b. This is b
   c. This is c
   2. Part 2
   d. This is a
   e. This is b
   f. This is c
   3. Part 3
   
   This is separation text.
   

Note that the letter bullets in the second instance of bullet 2 are renumbered.

Workaround

To work around this problem, you may have to manually renumber the lettered (or subordinate) list. To manually renumber a list, follow these steps:

1. Select the list item that you want to renumber.

2. Press BACKSPACE.

3. Type the number or letter that you want, and then press TAB.

Note This workaround may have unintended changes to the lettering and numbering of list items below the item that you change. If unintended changes occur, keep working down the list until you correct all the numbers and letters.

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.