Andy,

To answer your question, yes, you need to reset your list numbering in every 
paragraph type that could come between numbered lists. This generally isn't a 
large set of tags for the document formats I use. I often have a Numbered-cont 
paragraph tag that I use when numbered items may end up being more than one 
paragraph. This paragraph style indents and doesn't clear any of the 
auto-numbers. 

Regarding your example of a figure anchor paragraph, I generally try to avoid 
this technique. I know many Framers use a special anchor paragraph to keep 
figure numbers/captions with the anchored frame, but I prefer to put the anchor 
at the end of the paragraph that first references the figure. To keep the 
figure number with the anchored frame, I'll put a text frame inside of the 
graphic anchored frame at the bottom and house the figure caption inside the 
graphic's anchored frame. 

Frankly, all of my clients lately have had predefined templates that use the 
Numbered-1, Numbered, etc., and Anchor paragraph techniques, so I haven't 
practiced what I'm preaching here in several years.

Regarding your second point, the last time I did this, I used a fairly complex 
auto-numbering series. For example, assume that I have a document that requires 
a chapter numbers, Heading 1 numbers, and Heading 2 numbers, Numbered list, 
Lettered (sub) lists, Figure numbers, and Table numbers, the auto-number 
formats would be something like this:

Chapter: N:<n+>< =0>< =0>< =0>< =0>< =0>< =0>
Heading 1: N:<n>.<n+>< =0>< =0>< =0>
Heading  2: N:<n>.<n>.<n+>< =0>< =0>
Body: N:< >< >< >< =0>< =0>
Numbered: N: < >< >< ><n+>< =0>
Lettered: N: < >< >< >< ><a+>
Figure: Figure <n>-< >< >< >< ><n+> 
Table: Table <n>-< >< >< >< >< ><n+>

This assumes that figure and table numbers have the <chapter>-<number> format, 
and they reset to one for each new chapter. I don't remember if I needed the 
empty < > for Figure and Table numbers on paragraph tags that didn't reset or 
use those numbers.

I guess the bottom line is that this auto-numbering style is more complex, but 
you only need to do it once. With the explicit set to one numbering, you're 
always having to select one of two style for each type of numbering. You also 
need to revisit the paragraph style if you ever enter a new Numbered-1 above 
the old one.

Jay
-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Kass [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 4:25 PM
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com; Jay Mahler
Subject: RE: A simple numbering question

Hi,

At first, I really liked Jay's idea. Those NumberedFirst and NumberedAlphaFirst 
para tags in my own templates have been bothering me for quite a while.

But the more I think about it, the less I think it is practical, or even 
possible. I see two problems:

1. With this solution, you need to reset your list numbering in every paragraph 
type that could come between numbered lists, but not in ones that are allowed 
inside a numbered list. And I'm not sure those two groups are mutually 
exclusive. For example, I could have a figure (in my figure anchor paragraph) 
both as a separator (and nothing else) between procedures and as a illustration 
inside a procedure.

2. Any tag that may separate numbered lists (by itself) cannot have its own 
numbering (because paragraphs can have only one autonumber series). So I cannot 
use headings alone between lists, unless I put all my autonumbering into a 
single series, but that would be even more confusing.

I am wondering how you solved these problems. From what I see, you need to have 
usage rules such as "always put an intro paragraph or instruction lead-in" 
before a procedure (so that lists are separated and numbering is reset), or you 
need a more complicated numbering format on all your tags. And both of those 
seem more complex and error-prone than the NumberedFirst para tags.

Thanks,

  Andy

----------
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 13:58:56 -0400
From: Jay Mahler <[email protected]>
To: "framers at lists.frameusers.com" <framers at lists.frameusers.com>
Subject: RE: A simple numbering question
Message-ID:
        <2827841E8340F047862E0808EF03C9D91E754488E8 at winxbeus16.exchange.xchg>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I agree. Zeroing lists with Body tags and some lists on each chapter or header 
tag is something I highly recommend. My Numbering format for Body tags often 
look something like this: N:< =0>< =0>< =0>

Then, I can have simple formats for Numbered, Numbered-A, Numbered-a, etc. 
There is nothing I hate more than a template required by a client that has a 
bunch of Numbered-1, Numbered; Numbered-A-1, Numbered-A, etc. formats. It just 
makes the document harder to maintain.

Jay Mahler

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