Thanks for everyone's input, though it mostly confirms the two problems I listed.
I already have 4 levels of headings and Table, Figure, and Code Listing numbering in one series, so I don't really want to add 2 more levels everywhere (and duplicate the work in the appendix numbering series--but for that I should've used $chapnum). It was hard enough to debug, and with this, I'd have to add the autonumber series to most of my paragraph tags, not just the numbered ones. And I am reluctant to require some sort of intro paragraph, because I often use the heading as an intro (but not always) so that it shows up in the TOC. So that will give me sections like this: 4.3.2.1 Copying a File To copy a file: 1. Select the file ... In my situation, it seems like numbered list (and step) numbering will always be a 2-format deal (Numbered and NumberedFirst). Regards, Andy ----- "Jay Mahler" <jay at mahler.com> wrote: > 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:akass at jaspersoft.com] > 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 <jay at mahler.com> > 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
