Ytdyklly

I have a 95 page document that is nothing but a series of numbered lists. Each day I take the current list of tasks and copy-and-paste it one page down in the same document after the current date. When the list is copied I want word to keep its current number scheme starting at 1. What actually happens is that word continues the numbering from the original list despite the fact that there is a page break and other (non-list) information between the original list and its copy.

Example: ------------------------------------

1. Line one

    A. Item Ay

2. Line two



-- Page Break --



September 3, 2014

(after a copy and past of the above list)

3. Line one

    A. Item Ay

4. Line two

--- End of Example -----------------------

I know I can manually, with a few clicks, have word restart the numbering at 1, but I have a massive number of lists I am maintaining and the renumber by word is inconsistent.

Is there a way of shutting of this particular auto formatting in word?

I have exactly the same problem and after lots of research all I could do to stop the stupid automatic renumbering was to turn off numbering and manually enter the numbers in each list.

I'm writing a procedure manual and set up a template with sections containing standard headings and numbered lists and each time I pasted the template into my document the numbers would automatically renumber - some times continuing from the section above, sometimes randomly to other values. Very frustrating.

It would make more sense to never continue numbering from the previous list if the copy/paste function is invoked.

It would be great to have the option to turn this annoying feature off somewhere in MS Word.

I'm using MS Word 2010 and assume it behaves the same in MS Word 2013.

I remember having had this same problem before but while trying to reproduce it in my new working environment, I don't see the problem anymore: in my new working environment I'm working with Word 2016, and while trying to reproduce I see following paste options "Continue List", "New List" and "Keep Text Only". I believe those paste options have been added after the problem you mention, so I'd advise you to upgrade to Word 2016. This should solve your issue.

The way Word handles list pastes is truly weird.
I have tried several methods that do not work, or that only sometimes work.

One method that always works is to use the small popup which appears when
pasting a list. It has the option of "New List (N)", so when it does appear,
then clicking the down-arrow on the popup and pressing N
or clicking on the option will restart the numbering.

Another method might be to customize the ribbon and add somewhere the
"Restart Numbering" command. You may also assign it a keyboard shortcut.
However, this method requires clicking on the first list item
before issuing the command.
(See link.)

There is an option of "Keep source formatting" under
"File / Options / Advanced / Cut, Copy, and Paste", which seems to be
the one you are searching for, but it only sometimes works for lists
or not at all.

A solution that always seems to work
(tested in Word 2016) is to create a VBA macro
which pastes the clipboard with the option of Restart Numbering :

Sub PasteWithRenumber()

    Selection.PasteAndFormat (wdListRestartNumbering)

End Sub

Create and assign the macro a keyboard shortcut as described in the
Microsoft article
Create or run a macro.
To run it, click at the position to insert in the document
and type the keyboard shortcut.

Follow the steps in the following numbered list:

1. Open the Word Options dialog.


2. Select the Advanced options.


3. In the Cut, Copy and Paste section:


4. Make sure the Use smart cut and paste option is ticked.


5. Click the Settings button next to this option.


6. Make sure the Merge pasted lists with surrounding lists option is ticked.
   
   
   
   
   

The interesting thing is if you read the builtin Word Help(less):

Merge pasted lists with surrounding lists Select this option to format list items to conform to the surrounding list when you are pasting the items into a list.

Really!! Not.