Numbering in list doesn't work – it stays at 1. for all paragraphs

The default ought to be a list that starts at 1 and continues until the end of the list. The fact that you can't do this is a bug that should be fixed.

You just need to take some time to learn how to configure your lists. Once set up, they are unbreakable (unlike Word, which drives me insane!) But like so much in InDesign, to harness the power that it offers, we need to get over the learning curve.

Please share a screen shot or sketch of what you need, and any one of us will be able to help you work it out. 

In the meantime, here is a post I wrote for one of my students that you may find helpful. 

https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-basic-nested-lists/

~Barb

… But what on earth is the point of a numbered/lettered list that simply repeats 1 or A over and over again? The default ought to be a list that starts at 1 and continues until the end of the list. The fact that you can't do this is a bug that should be fixed.

By @alexscott521

Hi @alexscott521 

You are probably mistaken. Or did I misunderstand you?

May I ask how good your InDesign skills are?

Please show us what your list(s) should look like. Maybe we can find a way together.

Here are two examples from a parallel thread:

See this topic (unfortunately in German):

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/vereinssatzung-schreiben/td-p/11610252

Of course, the previous example also works without problems with lists in number format with several outline levels.

I think you can do exactly what you want, but it involves either two styles (the pro method) or using the "restart at 1" option (which is both a local style override — a bad-ish thing — and invisible on the style mapping).

Some of this is not simple or intuitive, but there is no fundamental flaw in the feature.

As for "more numbered lists," you are overlooking InDesign's ability to assign a name — more or less a unique style — to as many numbering schemes as you like.

As this complex numbering seems to be integral to your project, you might want to find a good tutorial or two that takes you through all the steps and options and features, so you have full mastery of them... without your view being colored by experience with Word's cranky system, and being able to see and clear away any faults from the Word import of those elements.