and how would the formula know if when you insert a row what 'level' you want to increment? For example if you insert a row after 1.3.3 should that be 1.4 or 1.3.4 or 1.3.3.1 Also there is the problem of a formula not auto-populating into a new line unless it is part of a table, which you could/should make this. BUT then the whole column is populated with that formula so how would it know when to break any of the 'levels'. Sorry at this time I don't see how to do this in a way that would actually make it less work for you instead of more work (creating a helper column and inserting extra rows to 'end' corresponding 'levels' ).