Problem with chapter numbering in Word (Mac)
投稿者: ibz
ibz
ibz  Identity Verified
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Dec 12, 2024

Dear all,

I have a very strange problem with chapter numbering in Word (Mac).
The numbering in the text (three levels) works just fine and the table of contents is also created correctly. However, when I save the document and reopen it, the table of contents is still correct (1, 1.1, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 2, etc.), whereas the headings in the text itself are no longer numbered numbered randomely.
The original text, which I have overwritten, also had this problem. Does anyone hav
... See more
Dear all,

I have a very strange problem with chapter numbering in Word (Mac).
The numbering in the text (three levels) works just fine and the table of contents is also created correctly. However, when I save the document and reopen it, the table of contents is still correct (1, 1.1, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 2, etc.), whereas the headings in the text itself are no longer numbered numbered randomely.
The original text, which I have overwritten, also had this problem. Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be?

Thanks in advance for your help!
Irene
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Natalie
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Hi Irene Dec 12, 2024

The problem may be with the styles - I suggest checking this article:
https://shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/numbering20072010.html?p=1768

Good luck,
Natalia


 
ibz
ibz  Identity Verified
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Thank you, Natalie Dec 12, 2024

I did everything as it should be done - but Word is still doing its own thing (not the first time this happens to me). What really puzzles me is that I can insert all levels and the documents looks perfect, but when I save, close and open it up again, the numbering is gone (except in the table of contents)

 
ibz
ibz  Identity Verified
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More info Dec 12, 2024

It gets stranger and stranger: if I save the text as .doc, all is fine, not so when saving as .docx ....

 
Gjorgji Apostolovski
Gjorgji Apostolovski  Identity Verified
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solution Dec 12, 2024

ibz wrote:

It gets stranger and stranger: if I save the text as .doc, all is fine, not so when saving as .docx ....



Quote from the link:

Do you have the document set to update styles from its template? Turn that setting off as follows: In the Templates and Add-Ins dialog box, clear the "Automatically update styles" option. Any subsequent changes made to styles/numbering options should now be preserved.

To display the dialog box: First show the Developer tab by selecting it at File tab | Options | Customize the Ribbon. On the Developer tab, click Document Template.


https://www.msofficeforums.com/word/17469-start-number-changes-when-document-reopened-after.html

[Edited at 2024-12-12 16:48 GMT]

[Edited at 2024-12-12 16:48 GMT]


Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD
 
ibz
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Thank you, Gjorgji Dec 12, 2024

Maybe I'm stupid but I can see no "Options" option under File. (I'm using Mac ...)
But how can it be that numbering has always worked fine but just with this one file I have huge probems? And why should it work when saving as .doc, but not when saving as .docx?


 
Gjorgji Apostolovski
Gjorgji Apostolovski  Identity Verified
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it's called preferences Dec 12, 2024

ibz wrote:

Maybe I'm stupid but I can see no "Options" option under File. (I'm using Mac ...)
But how can it be that numbering has always worked fine but just with this one file I have huge probems? And why should it work when saving as .doc, but not when saving as .docx?


I don't use Mac, but I found this, and apparently the Options it's called Preferences on Mac for all office products

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/where-are-word-options/a43982e6-a852-41b3-8c7d-bbe89e62328e


 
ibz
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@Gjorgji Dec 13, 2024

Thanks again for your help in this matter!
Yes, it do realize that Options is Preferences with Mac but I can't find anything there that can be changed.
Anyway: I sent the text as .doc and PDF which works just fine.
Just another fun fact: I also tried to open the document on my laptop, save is as .docx and open it up again. The result: the numbering was ok but the font changed... All in all a very strange experience...
See more
Thanks again for your help in this matter!
Yes, it do realize that Options is Preferences with Mac but I can't find anything there that can be changed.
Anyway: I sent the text as .doc and PDF which works just fine.
Just another fun fact: I also tried to open the document on my laptop, save is as .docx and open it up again. The result: the numbering was ok but the font changed... All in all a very strange experience
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Gjorgji Apostolovski
Gjorgji Apostolovski  Identity Verified
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np Dec 13, 2024

ibz wrote:

Thanks again for your help in this matter!
Yes, it do realize that Options is Preferences with Mac but I can't find anything there that can be changed.
Anyway: I sent the text as .doc and PDF which works just fine.
Just another fun fact: I also tried to open the document on my laptop, save is as .docx and open it up again. The result: the numbering was ok but the font changed... All in all a very strange experience



The font change? Maybe you don't have the same font on your laptop?

.docx is newer format and .doc is older format, and if you save your file as .doc (compatibility mode for older version of word) than this problem probably occurs, while saving in .docx no problem at all.


 
ibz
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It puzzles me as well! Dec 13, 2024

Yes, I know that .doc is an older format than .docx and I never ever use it. It was a kind of last (desperate) test to try saving the document as .doc and strangely enough, this solved my problem! So it seems that .docx causes this problem and not .doc.

Also, the font used is very common (Arial) and installed on all my computers - but my laptop decided to use Calibri instead.

But as already mentioned, the document is delivered and my client confirmed that everything is
... See more
Yes, I know that .doc is an older format than .docx and I never ever use it. It was a kind of last (desperate) test to try saving the document as .doc and strangely enough, this solved my problem! So it seems that .docx causes this problem and not .doc.

Also, the font used is very common (Arial) and installed on all my computers - but my laptop decided to use Calibri instead.

But as already mentioned, the document is delivered and my client confirmed that everything is all right.
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Gjorgji Apostolovski
Gjorgji Apostolovski  Identity Verified
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very strange Dec 13, 2024

Well, the main thing is that your job passed, and if this happen in future, you must find the cause of the problem and solution, ofc.

ibz
 
Hugh Thomson
Hugh Thomson
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Developer Tab Dec 13, 2024

ibz wrote:

Thanks again for your help in this matter!
Yes, it do realize that Options is Preferences with Mac but I can't find anything there that can be changed.
Anyway: I sent the text as .doc and PDF which works just fine.
Just another fun fact: I also tried to open the document on my laptop, save is as .docx and open it up again. The result: the numbering was ok but the font changed... All in all a very strange experience


I know it's too late, but I found the way to activate the Developer tab on my ancient (2011) copy of Word for Mac:

Word menu > Preferences > Ribbon
Scroll down list of tabs to Developer
Tick the checkbox next to it
Click OK

Hugh


ibz
 
Gjorgji Apostolovski
Gjorgji Apostolovski  Identity Verified
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posible solution Dec 13, 2024

Hugh Thomson wrote:

ibz wrote:

Thanks again for your help in this matter!
Yes, it do realize that Options is Preferences with Mac but I can't find anything there that can be changed.
Anyway: I sent the text as .doc and PDF which works just fine.
Just another fun fact: I also tried to open the document on my laptop, save is as .docx and open it up again. The result: the numbering was ok but the font changed... All in all a very strange experience


I know it's too late, but I found the way to activate the Developer tab on my ancient (2011) copy of Word for Mac:

Word menu > Preferences > Ribbon
Scroll down list of tabs to Developer
Tick the checkbox next to it
Click OK

Hugh


This will only add the Developer tab, and then you should

unthick this



according to the post here https://www.msofficeforums.com/word/17469-start-number-changes-when-document-reopened-after.html

or open your .doc, hit CTRL+A, copy all text, and open new document and paste it, and try to save as .docx and see what will happen. If the problem persists, something in the formats is probably messed up.

[Edited at 2024-12-13 12:32 GMT]


 
ibz
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@Hugh and Gjorgji Dec 17, 2024

Many thanks for your help - you made my day!
I just tried your solution: activating Developer tab (would never have found it without your help) and unticking the option "Automatically update...". Worked just fine


Gjorgji Apostolovski
 


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Problem with chapter numbering in Word (Mac)






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