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senorita_senor
Inspiring
February 14, 2011
Answered

Figure number restarts

  • February 14, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • 814 views

Hi all,

I've seen a few other discussions about this but none answers my question.

I have inherited/am updating some very large documents that have more figures than most art museums, and more tables than an army mess hall.

The figure numbering was structured by a former writer. About 90% of the time, it works properly. However, intermittently, the figure numbering restarts (at 1) halfway through a single document (not a single book). Sometimes (but not always) there is a table that exists between one figure and then next, and sometimes (but not always) removing this table seems to resolve the figure numbering and make it sequential again.

I just noticed this and am up against a deadline yesterday, pretty much. I can provide any supporting material (how figures are formatted, tables are formatted, etc). I personally avoid overusing figures, so I have never encountered thsi before. Any help would be tremendously appreciated.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Van Kurtz

    My guess is that the autonumbering for the tables is using the same series label as the figures. In your case, the table is resetting the numbering or changing it in some way so that the following figure restarts. So, the trick is to use one series label for tables and a different one for figures.

    The series label is part of the autonumbering, something like S:<n+>. In this case, the S is the series label (note the colon). Use say a T for tables and an F for figures.

    2 replies

    M
    Mike Wickham
    Inspiring
    February 14, 2011

    If you are using separate numbering for tables and figures, you may also

    want to look at "The case for simple numbering," which can be found

    here: <http://www.techknowledgecorp.com/nonum.html>.

    L
    lsk2002
    Inspiring
    February 15, 2011

    Mike,

    The link provided was very interesting. Is there a place that I can read more about the study?

    Thanks,

    ls

    M
    Mike Wickham
    Inspiring
    February 15, 2011

    The link provided was very interesting. Is there a place that I can

    read more about the study?

    I don't know. I was merely forwarding a link someone once forwarded to

    me. You'd have to check with the party that posted the document. There

    is contact info on the home page of the site.

    Van Kurtz
    Van KurtzCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    February 14, 2011

    My guess is that the autonumbering for the tables is using the same series label as the figures. In your case, the table is resetting the numbering or changing it in some way so that the following figure restarts. So, the trick is to use one series label for tables and a different one for figures.

    The series label is part of the autonumbering, something like S:<n+>. In this case, the S is the series label (note the colon). Use say a T for tables and an F for figures.

    S
    senorita_senorAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 14, 2011

    Thank you!! That was it. Thanks a ton!

    S
    senorita_senorAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 14, 2011

    Yea, I personally actually like the case for NO numbering, and the case for fewer figures!

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