Numbering Figures According to Sections

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    • #85143

      Is there a way to automate figure numbering that corresponds to the sequence of sections?

      Note: I don’t want to create books/chapters.

      Example:

      First “Start Section”
      (Figure 1.1, Figure 1.2, Figure 1.3)

      Second “Start Section”
      (Figure 2.1, Figure 2.2, Figure 2.3)

    • #85147
      Matt Isaac
      Participant

      You will need your section titles to be numbered as well. In the section title paragraph styles create a new list with both numbering boxes checked and assign the level to 1. Then in the Figure names paragraph style choose the same list that the section titles are saved under and assign that list to level 2. Then check the box to restart numbering after any previous level.

      If you have numbered subsections then you will need the subsection at level 2 and restart after any previous level. Then the figure names style will be level 3 and restart after 1.

      I hope this makes sense.

    • #85180
      Ari Singer
      Member

      Skemicle’s idea is great, but I want to add some extra tips as well:

      First, to clarify Skemicle’s approach:

      1. Edit the ‘Section’ paragraph style. Under Bullets and Numbering, from the List Type dropdown menu select Numbers (duh!…).
      2. From the List: dropdown menu select New List. A ‘New List’ dialog box appears. Give the new list a name (such as “figure_list”). Make sure both checkboxes are activated. hit OK
      3. In the Number: textbox, you’ll probably see the default string (^#.^t). Delete the last few characters so you’re only left with ^#. This will delete the period and the tab from after the number.
      4. From the Character Style: dropdown menu select New Character Style. A new ‘Character Style’ dialog box appears. Give it a name (such as ‘hidden_numbers’). Define only two settings in the character style: Make the point size 0.1 and the character color to [None]. Hit OK. This effectively ‘hides’ the numbers from the section headers so it doesn’t actually show up in the text. Save the paragraph style.
      5. Now edit the Bullets and Numbering in the ‘Figure’ paragraph style. From the List Type: dropdown menu select the ‘figure_list’ list that you created earlier. Then make sure that the Level: is set to 2.

      That’s it! It’s basically Skemicle’s approach, but clarified. Plus, a cool trick on how to ‘hide’ numbers when you don’t want then to actually show up in the text.

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