InDesign Multi-Level Lists issue - numbers must start at 100

[Julie21870932nyf9]

Hi there, I am pulling my hair out with this problem, and it took me forever just to get to this point. I have an InDesign document with multi-level lists - for sections and sub-sections of a technical document. I am trying to make the numbering go up, starting with 100 rather than 1.

For example,

Level 1: 100, 200, 300 (to indicate section starts)

Level 2: 100, 101, 102, 103; 200, 201, 202 (I know 100 is duplicated, but it has to be)

Level 3: 100.1, 100.2, 100.3; 101.1, 101.2

Level 4: 100.1.1, 100.1.2, 101.1.1, 101.1.2

The issue is when I get to double digits, it is adding in a zero. So instead of it being 111 it is 1011, or 1011.1. How do I fix this?

Here are my bullet list numbering style formulas currently:

Level 1:^#00^t

Level 2:^10^#^t

Level 3: ^10^2.^#^t

Level 4: not there yet - need to fix the extra zero issue first

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Well, when you have the center zero in hard text, there's no way for the automatic number to omit it when it rolls over to ten. I don't think there's any way to make your scheme work; you may simply have to manually number levels for this odd numbering plan.

But I just did a rough test and had no trouble doing it this way:

• Create a hierarchy of numbered styles 1-4.
• Set each's numbering at Level 1 to Level 4.
• Set levels 1 and 2 to Start At 100.
• Set levels 3 and 4 to Start At 1.

This should provide exactly the numbering scheme and hierarchy you want EXCEPT that you will need two styles for each level: one to Start At 1 or 100, and a subsequent one to Continue Numbering. That is, LEVEL 1-1 and LEVEL 1-n, and so forth.

With a tidy hierarchy of styles and a Next Style defined for for the "1st" styles, it should not be difficult to achieve, but it's still going to take a lot of manual style tagging. This won't be something you can just bomb down, typing stuff in as if you're in Word.

Do I need to clarify any of that? The trick you're overlooking, I think, is that any numbered style can be set to start at any number  — you don't have to "preload" those hundreds spacers.

[Julie21870932nyf9]

Hi @James Gifford—NitroPress, 
Thank you for your reply! I am working though your suggestion - and as always, the first section looks good but as I go to the subsequent sections it all falls apart because the numbering for the sections goes up by 1s instead of 100s. Perhaps I have my coding wrong? Or is the only way to make this work is to create a paragraph style for each section with level 1 starting at 100, then 200, then 300 - etc, for each? And if that's the case, do I need Level 1 as it is or do I remove Level 2 and bump each level up? I was also trying to get the tables and figures to use the section numbering as a starting point as well - so Table 1= 100-A, Table 2=100-B, etc.

Section 100
Level 1: 100
Level 2: 100, 101, 102

Section 200
Level 1: Section 101 (Should be 200)
Level 2: 100, 101, 102 (Should be 200, 201, 202)

 

[Barb Binder]

This is how I would do it but keep in mind that InDesign can't automatically count by 100s so you will need to set those Level 1s manually. Everthing else will auto-increment as you edit.

If this looks right, I'm happy to share the file.

~Barb

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Didn't think of that; each multiple of 100 at each level would need a new starting style as well.

I am not sure any autonumbering scheme here brings enough automation to make it worthwhile; I'd just number things manually, at least for the first two "100" levels.

[Barb Binder]

I went to clean up the file to get ready to share it, and it falls apart as I hit the 2nd top level. I forget sometimes it InDesign isn't FrameMaker, and it doesn't recognize the manual override. I'm stuck.

~Barb

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I think that like page numbering, InDesign's auto number features can only be pushed so far from a straight, linear model.

I'd use manual numbering for the first two levels, and autonumbering with a 1/restart and n/Continue for the second two levels. As for extending it to the tables, figures, etc. — honestly, I'd look at using a wholly different number scheme. This is like no standard (MIL, GOV, medical, legal etc.) scheme I've ever seen and it's not well thought out.

[Barb Binder]

Holy moly. I did it. The logic was nuts.

@Julie21870932nyf9 , if you confirm this is correct, I'll be back with screen shots.

~Barb

[Julie21870932nyf9]

Wow! @Barb Binder  that does look correct!! attaching screenshots of the TOC (from word) to confirm. Unfortunately, it's not my doc so I can't dictate how the numbering works and auto numbering is a must with a 200 page doc. 
I think you did it! 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Well, if anyone, Barb... 🙂

I hacked at it a little longer and didn't see any easy way past the hurdles. Kudos.

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

🥳  I thought my brain was going to explode, but we got there! 🤯

There were two things about your numbering that was unusual: counting by 100's and holding the counter value. Plus InDesign has so many clicks to edit the numbering I couldn't remember what I was doing when I finally got there.

I'm going to share my file but here are the screen shots first. It sounds like you understand numbering pretty well, so I'm just going to say that all paragraph styles have the same list name. Look closely at the levels: there are seven styles, but I used six levels (sequentially, 1, 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6) and its unusual referencing of the levels (always ^1 for the top level (never ^2), then the normal appended levels, i.e. ^1.^3 for heading level 3).

Disregard what I said about InDesign not recognizing the style number override—it does. So for 200 and 300, I didn't make a new style, I Alt+Opt clicked on the numbering icon on the Control panel and set it manually. Everything fell into place with each override.

I'll be back with a link to the file next. You are welcome to ask follow-up questions. 

~Barb

[Barb Binder]

Julie: here is the link:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lklrj9ozzqr8qpt5wnbfg/Julie-numbered-heads.indd?rlkey=ppw391e2mnuxiil...

~Barb

[Julie21870932nyf9]

@Barb Binder Thank you soooo much - you totally saved my bacon with this solution. Worked like a charm! 

[Barb Binder]

Always happy to help, @Julie21870932nyf9.

~Barb