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[MYK]

In Word 2007, there appears to be no way to tell paragraph numbering to use four digits at all times.  So, I've tried the old fallback of using "000#" for the first ten paragraphs (with the start value defaulting to 1), "00##" for the next ninety (setting the start value to 10), "0###" for the next nine hundred (setting the start value to 100), and "####" for any following that (setting the start value to 1000).

Each of these is set up as a different numbering format, and the initial paragraph is being set to be a "new" numbering sequence.

Unfortunately, every time I start a "new" numbering sequence -- i.e., the "00##" for the tenth paragraph, since, thanks to the rest of this rant, I can't get it to go any further anyway -- Word insists on changing all of the indentations of the paragraph so that the number is "hanging" and the paragraph loses an inch off the left margin.

And when I fix all of the paragraph nonsense, Word automatically REJOINS the new numbering to the initial one, DESTROYING THE NEW NUMBERING SEQUENCE and either changing the format of the original so that I get [001], or changing the new one so that I get [00010].  I'm not sure whether Word alternates between the two, or picks one randomly, or takes direction from the evil central corporate server at Microsoft HQ that attempts to destroy the minds of all who use Microsoft software so that they are unable to formulate rational thought any longer (e.g., "screw this, I'm switching to Open Office, it's free and it doesn't have ridiculous numbers of stupid bugs like this in it").

Anyone have a fix?  For the moment, I am stuck using Word due to other requirements like corporate inertia ("but we've always used Word, everybody uses Word, why don't you want to use Word, are you a communist?") and intransigence ("but we like paying money to Microsoft for products that barely work! and forced upgrades that we didn't need!").  Short of reducing Microsoft Corporate HQ to rubble and thereby eliminating the company's products from the face of the Earth, I don't believe I will be allowed to use Open Office, sadly.

Oh yeah, Microsoft's "help" system is useless as always.  Apparently this problem doesn't exist.  Webpages put up by well-meaning people who are likewise trapped are not sufficiently helpful to enable overcoming Microsoft's hardcoded features/bugs.

[MYK]

Hah.  Adding a whole bunch of garbage between the two sets of numbering seems to stop Word in its evil tracks.  Now I just have to hope that when finished, I can delete the garbage without Word merging the sequences again.

[JimIvey]

FWIW, I don't even worry about 0-padding.  My first paragraph is "[1]".  Never been bounced for that yet (or even heard the slightest complaint).

Prior to my current office suite (OpenOffice.org), I used to be able 0-pad numbering.  I thought it was MS Word, but now that I think about it, it might have been Word Perfect.

My suggestion: forget about the 0-padding.  It's not that important.

Regards.

[MYK]

I know, I know.  It's just another frustration I didn't need at the moment.

[khazzah]

I'm seriously considering *not* numbering my paragraphs.

The rules do not require it, only stating that it "should" be done. I know plenty of practitioners that don't number at all, or use line numbers instead of paragraph numbering -- and none of them have had any problems.

The main reason I want to stop numbering is that the PTO often *renumbers* at publication, which can lead to discrepancies between my originally filed paragraph numbers and the publication paragraph numbers. This discrepancy often occurs when there is an equation, or table, or list, or subheading -- something that I numbered as a separate para. but the PTO didn't, or vice versa.

Anyone else noticed these discrepancies in paragraph numbering?

[Isaac]

Anyone else noticed these discrepancies in paragraph numbering?

Yes.   The paragraph numbers in an application publication are rarely the same as those in the filed application.  The paragraph numbers in the filed application are convenient for prosecution purposes, so I expect that I'll continue to use them.

[JimIvey]

FWIW, when referring to paragraph numbers, I explicitly state whether I'm referring to the application as filed or as published (citing it by publication number).

I find citing paragraph numbers much easier than citing page/column and line numbers.

Actually, now I'm a bit curious as to how I could model my paragraph numbering to correspond more accurately to publication paragraph numbering.  I bet I could get the styles right.....

Regards.

[zlatan24]

FWIW, I don't even worry about 0-padding.  My first paragraph is "[1]".  Never been bounced for that yet (or even heard the slightest complaint).

Prior to my current office suite (OpenOffice.org), I used to be able 0-pad numbering.  I thought it was MS Word, but now that I think about it, it might have been Word Perfect.

My suggestion: forget about the 0-padding.  It's not that important.

Regards.

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