Can I fix my outline in Word?
December 5, 2011 1:31 PM Subscribe
I used "outline number" to create my outline; unfortunately I had to change the first level, and now everything below it is one level off.
Can this (moving everything up a level) be fixed in one go, or is my only option to change it one-by-one? Thanks for any help you can offer!
Here's what it currently looks like:
I.
-------- 1.
------------i.
I want to do this:
I.
---a. (formerly 1)
------- 1. (formerly i)
------------i.
Can this (moving everything up a level) be fixed in one go, or is my only option to change it one-by-one? Thanks for any help you can offer!
Here's what it currently looks like:
I.
-------- 1.
------------i.
I want to do this:
I.
---a. (formerly 1)
------- 1. (formerly i)
------------i.
Response by poster: That helps, but I still have to go line by line to get them each to "outdent". If I highlight a whole group (with subgroups), everything shifts back, but level changing (e.g. from 1 to a) doesn't.
posted by Sakura3210 at 1:39 PM on December 5, 2011
posted by Sakura3210 at 1:39 PM on December 5, 2011
Hmmm...not sure then. When I do this on a test outline the level changing happens automatically. Is it possible that you somehow changed you list so it's no longer a single continuous list?
posted by doctord at 2:05 PM on December 5, 2011
posted by doctord at 2:05 PM on December 5, 2011
select your whole list, hit the list icon twice, then do the outdent thing
btw, save a new version of this doc before experimenting too much
also try outdenting so everything is aligned as needing, then selecting all and hitting the list icon 2x
posted by prefpara at 2:22 PM on December 5, 2011
btw, save a new version of this doc before experimenting too much
also try outdenting so everything is aligned as needing, then selecting all and hitting the list icon 2x
posted by prefpara at 2:22 PM on December 5, 2011
i am also willing to fix your document for you if you get frustrated
fooling around in word is like... the most fun
posted by prefpara at 2:22 PM on December 5, 2011
fooling around in word is like... the most fun
posted by prefpara at 2:22 PM on December 5, 2011
Few suggestions:
1. Change en masse by right clicking a level you want to change and selecting Styles > Select Text with Similar Formatting. That should hopefully select only the level you are interested in. Then change that and do the same for another level.
2. Switch to Outline view and filter down to just level 3 Then select all the level 3s within a level 1 section and click 'Promote' to level 2. This should also promote all the level 3's level 4's to level 3's.
3. Or just do it quickly one by one Switch to Outline view and filter down to just levels, this gives a neater view. Then select a level you want to change e.g. a level 3 number to a 2. Then select the next one you need to change and hit F4. Repeat for all that levels you should be able to do loads very quickly.
posted by NailsTheCat at 3:25 PM on December 5, 2011
1. Change en masse by right clicking a level you want to change and selecting Styles > Select Text with Similar Formatting. That should hopefully select only the level you are interested in. Then change that and do the same for another level.
2. Switch to Outline view and filter down to just level 3 Then select all the level 3s within a level 1 section and click 'Promote' to level 2. This should also promote all the level 3's level 4's to level 3's.
3. Or just do it quickly one by one Switch to Outline view and filter down to just levels, this gives a neater view. Then select a level you want to change e.g. a level 3 number to a 2. Then select the next one you need to change and hit F4. Repeat for all that levels you should be able to do loads very quickly.
posted by NailsTheCat at 3:25 PM on December 5, 2011
Word stores lots of data in the paragraph marks. Turn on show/hide. Set up 1 part of the outline as
I.
---a.
------- 1.
------------i.
Highlight from I. to the end of the line beginning i. Choose the format painter paintbrush, and 'paint' the format to the rest of the outline.
posted by theora55 at 6:47 PM on December 5, 2011
I.
---a.
------- 1.
------------i.
Highlight from I. to the end of the line beginning i. Choose the format painter paintbrush, and 'paint' the format to the rest of the outline.
posted by theora55 at 6:47 PM on December 5, 2011
You need to create an outline style, if you are deviating from the pre-existing schemes. Otherwise, your headings change themselves, as some headings belong to one style and some to another - so they are not renumbered in sync with each other.
I spend a lot of time tearing my hair out, over Word renumbering (I find that it unilaterally renumbers my sections out of order). The best resource I know for how to deal with Word numbering styles is How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in Word 2007 and Word 2010.
posted by Susurration at 6:59 PM on December 5, 2011
I spend a lot of time tearing my hair out, over Word renumbering (I find that it unilaterally renumbers my sections out of order). The best resource I know for how to deal with Word numbering styles is How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in Word 2007 and Word 2010.
posted by Susurration at 6:59 PM on December 5, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by doctord at 1:33 PM on December 5, 2011