How to create a custom outline numbering layout for use in procedu

[Bob D.]

I know how to use the custom outline numbeirng in Word, what I am trying to
find a way to do is create a custom outline that has place keeping sapces to
teh left of the outline numbers. These placekeeping lines must all be aligned
against the left margin, regardless of what level the outline is at. in other
words they can not indent with the different outline levels. As a short
example of what I am trying to do, see below.

1.0 Section Heading (no placekeeping marks at this level)

___ ___ 1.1 Sub-step. There may be at any level in the outline a need
for one or two spaces as some steps could require a second
party to perform a verification that the step was completed.

___ ___ 1.1.1 The checkoff spaces need to remain at the left margin,
they can not indent with the sub-steps. Text must
be
aligned as shown here. If a step text is longer
than one
line then the text must not fall under the step
number,
it must be aligned as shown.

___ A. At the fourth level upper case letters are used.
Here
only one placekeeping space is shown, but it
could have
been two.

___ 1. Fifth level step. Also, as shown here, a
blank line
( as in <CR/LF )should follow (or proceed
whichever
way you want to look at it) each step. If that could be
included as part of the scheme that would be a big plus.

___ a. Lower case letters at this level.

___ ___ 1) Level 7. Somehow need the option to
have one or
two placekeeping spaces at the
left margin, this
need (one or two) can vary with
each step.


-------------
I have been able to accomplish all this (duplicating the outline layout)
except for how to setup the placekeeping space(s) at the left margin. Some of
the procedures that I want to convert over from WP6.1 and WP9 have many
pages, a few are a hundred pages long. Word does not seem to like anything to
the left of the outline numbering, where WordPerfect takes it in stride as no
big deal. Please tell me there is a way to duplicate this functionality in
Word2000, as I hate working with WordPerfect.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

You can put underlines before a number in the "Number format" box, but they
will definitely follow the number, so that's not going to be helpful. I
think I would be inclined to use a two-column borderless table for this.
Make the first column just wide enough to accommodate the checkoff lines;
actually, if you use two very narrow columns and apply a bottom border to
the cell contents (that is, the empty paragraph rather than the cell
itself), you'd get your lines automatically. Then put the numbered
paragraphs in the second column, starting a new row for each paragraph. You
won't be able to use Tab and Shift+Tab to increase and decrease the indent,
but the toolbar buttons (if you have them) will still work, as will the
Alt+Shift+Left/Right Arrow shortcuts. You may need to experiment with cell
margins to get just the appearance you want, but this should work. Be sure
to set up the outline numbering according to
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html.

 

[Bob D.]

I was thinking that a table might be the answer but it sounds like a lot of
work to port the procedures over from WordPerfect. A lot of C&P into the
cells. The plackeeping marks need to stay at the top of the cell, aligned
with the first line of the step text. Future editing sounds like a nightmare,
with WP I just C&P a series of steps pr a step, along with the plackeeping
marks, and everything is renumbered in the outline automagically.

I know that I am not the only one who needs this functionality, and not just
the one company that I work for. There are a few hundred procedure writers
working across the country who would want this if someone would or could
develop it as an add-in. If there is a developer out there who is interested
contact me. If you build it they will come.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

As I suggested, if you use two columns with paragraph borders, you don't
need the "placekeeping marks." And they will align with the top line of the
numbered paragraph provided that you use the same font size and paragraph
spacing and Top vertical alignment for all cells. For the numbered
paragraphs, you still need to apply styles. If you define the styles with
the desired numbering and apply them appropriately, that will all be
automatic as well.

 

[Bob D.]

Thanks for your help. I will give it a try.

As I suggested, if you use two columns with paragraph borders, you don't
need the "placekeeping marks." And they will align with the top line of the
numbered paragraph provided that you use the same font size and paragraph
spacing and Top vertical alignment for all cells. For the numbered
paragraphs, you still need to apply styles. If you define the styles with
the desired numbering and apply them appropriately, that will all be
automatic as well.