Forum Discussion
Numbering and bullets in Word docs keep disappearing
Just recording my company's experience with this problem.
On seemingly random occasions, our bullets and heading styles lose their front part (the bullets and numbers). I developed the company template from scratch, so I know the nitty gritty details. We use a multilevel list, tied into built in styles (Heading 1, 2, 3, and 4) with auto numbering (V.0, V.X, V.X.Y, V.X.Y.Z). Our bulleted styles are custom styles.
The problem has been troubleshot down to it being only an issue when a member of our international team gets into the document. They have a different IT department that sets up their computers, and I know they use a newer version of MS Word (we are all generally on MS Word 2016, they have the autosave feature, so I know it's a newer edition). We've sent them in to try to figure out the configuration issue. I believe, for our company, the fix will come when we can get all the computers that access the files to be as similar as we can get them. Same version of word (all the US based team), no issue. Send it to the international team-broken file with no headings and bullets. More than trying to adjust things within Word (configuring the template, file, your individual word settings, etc.), I would attempt to focus on the computers at large that access the file.
Would love a fix from Microsoft-sincerely, a representative for a ~500 person company
DougRad Interesting that you were able to narrow it down to specific users! I'm thinking I may need to meet with the couple of suspects I have in my org. to see if I can find the variable. I know it isn't a version issue, as I've confirmed everyone in my (relatively small) org. is on the exact same version/build of O365 Business. I think I'm in @nikkipike 's corner now, that it could be a "Word Online" vs. "Desktop Version" issue. Nothing else seems to make sense.
I spent an hour and a half the other night watching an online training by a "Microsoft Certified Trainer" and "Office Specialized Master" to see if it was possible there was some aspect of list styles that I was missing that could be contributing. I can't say I learned anything that I didn't already know, but thought he provided some interesting/funny/demoralizing context on the biggest problems with List Styles/Multi-level Lists.
Some key takeaways from a Microsoft Certified Trainer on the topic:
Goes on to talk about how there are billions of existing word documents and if they "fixed" lists, it could break all existing documents:
His advice for addressing any numbering/list issues in a template:
I may actually take his advice when I have some time and just try fully redeveloping them... seems like he has little hope for there being a quick fix.Happy Friday!
