What is the name of this numbering system?

October 27, 2009 11:27 AM

Does this Dewey decimal-like numbering system seen in requirements documents, site maps and any numbered system where you don't have to rewrite the numbers every time an update is made and looks like 1.2.1.1 have a name?

• 1
• 2
  • 2.1
  • 2.2


• 3
  • 3.1
  • 3.2
  • 3.3
    • 3.3.1
  
  


• 4

posted by joelf to Writing & Language (11 answers total)

I've always thought it was called versioning.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 11:34 AM on October 27, 2009

Obligatory Wiki link.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 11:35 AM on October 27, 2009

Best answer: Outlining
posted by nightwood at 11:38 AM on October 27, 2009

In Word, it's called "legal numbering."
So called, because legal documents number every paragraph. Legal numbering a la Word doesn't do that, but it does call out specific heading levels, and signify 'subservient' content.
posted by dbmcd at 11:56 AM on October 27, 2009

If you're working in Word, you'll need use Headings for each of the numberings (so Heading 1=1.0, heading 2=1.1, Heading 3=1.1.1, etc). Even then (for Word 2003), numbering can break if you don't know the secret handshake to Make It Stop. MeFi Mail me for the details.
posted by dbmcd at 11:58 AM on October 27, 2009

Probably unhelpful, but: that numbering system is famously used in Ludwig Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921), which explains it as if readers have never seen it before. I have seen it used in parodies where readers are expected to associate the numbering system with that book. (And I have heard it referred to as the "Tractatus numbering system", but obviously not in the context you're looking for.)
posted by k. at 12:21 PM on October 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks all!
posted by joelf at 1:04 PM on October 27, 2009

Response by poster: It' not in Word I need to do this, thanks though. I just needed a name of the system to explain it to a class.
posted by joelf at 1:07 PM on October 27, 2009

Also, the LaTeX typesetting system—widely used for writing scientific/mathematics articles and academic theses—automatically numbers sections according to this system. LaTeX isn't the origin, but I'm sure it contributes to the continuing popularity of such numbering.
posted by paulg at 1:13 PM on October 27, 2009

Response by poster: This numbering system is so useful in creating site maps. If a client of mine needs to edit a page in the Students > current student > Resources > how to apply > Step 4 page of my site they just need the 1.2.4.1.4 reference number that is on top of the proposed text change sheet, and in the site map and every wehere else.
posted by joelf at 3:04 PM on October 27, 2009

Response by poster: There is also an ISO standard describing this
posted by joelf at 5:51 PM on March 14, 2010