https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=155269

--- Comment #9 from ajlittoz <[email protected]> ---
I bump on this report totally by chance.

IMHO there is no bug but general documentation does not describe enough the
context.

We have two complimentary features which can be used separately if needed:
heading numbering et outline level.

1) Outline level is primarily intended to build automatic TOC in an orderly
manner. The level will be converted into a paragraph style in the TOC. This is
all it does.

The same level can be assigned to several paragraph styles. This is how we can
get different look (or purpose) for text pertaining to the same semantic
structuring "tree". (There is another reason related to heading numbering, but
this is independent.)

2) It is frequently required that headings be numbered. This is done with the
list feature. In a sense, numbered headings is nothing but a list (if there is
no TOC, outline levels are not necessary). In order to avoid mess, Writer
provides a specially protected internal list for this purpose. The
corresponding list style can't be managed the usual way. It is only possible
through Tools>Heading Numbering, thus protecting efficiently the style.

Heading numbering is a "complimentary service" to avoid the pain of going
through the difficulty of configuring a list style which would be difficult for
newbies (and even confirmed users) because this requires understanding the
notion and capabilities of list styles.

This comes to a price: some simplification to maintain consistency inside the
list and also with outline configuration since numbered headings frequently
imply a TOC.

Heading Numbering has a reverse approach compared to lists. You attach a
paragraph style to the heading list while in ordinary lists you attach a list
style to a paragraph style.

This has two consequences:
a - the paragraph style is automatically switched when you promote or demote a
heading level (not -- presently ? -- possible on ordinary lists)
b - only a single paragraph style is possible per level (while several
paragraph styles can be associated with a list style but without automatic
switch)

=====

For me, the behaviour described in the report is not a bug. It allows very
sophisticated document structures and layouts. However, I acknowledge that
available documentation is not clear enough, not even letting imagine all the
possibilities.

Tools>Heading Numbering, as presently implemented, insures consistency for most
common cases. When sophisticated schemes are needed, it is user's
responsibility to use the features in a consistent way, preferentially in a
template, and to avoid confusion by assigning outline levels in "illogical"
order.

My opinion is : CLOSE, NOT A BUG

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