Comments on: Using a numbered list to create chapter numbers in a TOC

By: Traci

Traci — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:46:43 +0000

This is a little off topic, but I’m in a bind. I need to figure out a way to fix my numbering. My TOC/ numbering scheme is perfect except for a section that skips from 1 to 3. No 2 in sight. When I look at it in story editor, it also shows that it’s missing. I’ve gone to every Indesign Forum looking for help but I’m at a loss. If you could give me any hints, I would really appreciate it.

I’m using ID3 and I’m having ID automatically generate the TOC.

Level 1 (at C.) says continue from previous, restart numbering.(paragraph styles-bullets and numbering)
Level 2 (at 1) says continues from previous, restart numbering. (paragraph styles-bullets and numbering)(I just right clicked on it to restart numbering and nothing changed.
Level 3 (at a) has continue from previous, restart numbering, with a right click override to start at a.
Level 3 (at b) has continue from previous, restart numbering.)
Level 2 (at 3) has continue from previous, restart numbering. If I right clicked it, it says restart numbering.

Traci

By: Annie

Annie — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:40:35 +0000

I’m new to CS3 (and long docs) trying to layout a small magazine which will have future issues updated and completed by the editor using my template. Ads and number of pages will vary each issue. I’m exploring the TOC hoping to have pages updated automatically. I’d like to have page numbers listed first, followed by a colored vertical bar (leader) then the feature title. I’ll also have an advertisers’ index which will include the page numbers of where their ads are placed. Can anyone direct me a bit on this? I’m a little fish in a big pond here, but at least I know this is a great pond to be in:)

By: Eugene

Eugene — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 01:38:21 +0000

Perhaps variables need a special mention. They are new and they are awesome.

By: David Blatner

David Blatner — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:52:33 +0000

Sandee, you’re absolutely right for your book; great points. But I wanted to make sure we at least mentioned the Chapter Number variable in the discussion, as many people don’t know it exists.

By: Klaus Nordby

Klaus Nordby — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:29:38 +0000

Sandee, thank you for this neat idea — you’re a smart cookie!

By: Eugene Tyson

Eugene Tyson — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:21:48 +0000

Yes, you know what I was thinking. Autonumber for the chapter. Then character style for the autonumber. Then a variable in the running head to pick up the character style. But I already figured out months ago that the character style won’t be picked up as a variable if it’s an autonumber.

By all means, I know that the Chapter No. Variable is the correct way to do it and I wasn’t insinuating otherwise.

And the goal was to put text in before the text in the ToC, which you have done and I can’t find another way to do it. So well done, very clever.

By: vectorbabe

vectorbabe — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:45:34 +0000

The reason I have the chapter number variable at the front of the chapters is that I also use a chapter number variable in the running heads.
That chapter number variable is not in its own paragraph.
But even if I used a numbered list across documents, I still wouldn’t be able to get the word “Chapter” in the TOC entry.

By: Eugene Tyson

Eugene Tyson — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:40:08 +0000

I’m wondering why you would have a Chapter Number Variable here then? Could you not have achieved the same thing by having a Numbered List defined that carries across Chapters in the Book?

Not that there is anything wrong with having two ways to do the same thing. I’m just curious as to why really, I’m sure you have a good reason and I’m sure there are many reasons for doing this, one being to have a variable for your running head, I suppose. I feel I have asked and answered my own question.

By: vectorbabe

vectorbabe — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:27:18 +0000

Eugene is correct, but even that solution wouldn’t work for me as the word “Chapter” doesn’t appear as part of the paragraph that holds the chapter number variable.

By: Eugene Tyson

Eugene Tyson — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:19:21 +0000

David’s way works well if you’re going to have:

Chapter 1…… 1
Getting Started…..1
etc.

Vector babe’s way is good if you want the ToC to look like

Chapter 1 Getting Started…1

I particluary like the numbering for doing Figures, Tables, Examples and other things. Throughout the body of your text you can have all these autmatically numbered, no hassle no fuss, just different paragraph styles.