In the process of upgrading from Word 2003 to Word 2013 I am re-doing all my templates which include multilevel List associated with Headings 1 - 9. 

All the Multilevel List have a First Line Indent of .5" times the Outline Level, for instance level 2 has a first line indent of 1". The indentation for the rest of the paragraph is 0" allowing  each additional line to start at the left margin.

So here is the question; How can I prevent the following from happening?

If I have a numbered paragraph with Heading 1-9, and I back space through the number -  instead of just removing the number and leaving me a paragraph with the first line indented and the rest of the paragraph going back to the margin, the entire paragraph becomes indented the same amount that the first line was indented.

Here are some images that so what is happening.  The only difference between the first and second image is one keystroke.

 I strongly agree that backspacing through the number is not the correct way to remove numbering from this paragraph.  With that said, this is not the way it used to work and the drastic difference in the look of the paragraph would be confusing to someone who is not used to styles and multilevel numbering.

So if anyone knows how to keep this from happening I would very much appreciate any help or suggestions.  I have tried a wide variety of Word options to see if maybe I just had a setting wrong but have not been able to find any combination that controls this behavior.

Thanks

Matt Reed

Before you backspace to delete the heading format it with the style of the preceding paragraph.

Hi,

Just checking in to see if the information was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Regards,

George Zhao
Forum Support
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Thanks for Replying Charles.  Your answer does not always work, depends on the format of the preceding paragraph. 

I did find out that if I hit BackSpace Twice instead of just once the paragraph appears as expected.  By hitting the backspace that second time, the format changes but not the text of the fact it still appears as a HeadingX.

At this point, I can work around the issue.  Still not real sure what is going on.

Thanks again.

Matt

Hello George,

I guess that I am Ok for now.  It is rather odd behavior, but hitting Backspace Twice instead of Once works.  Not sure if my users will know to try that if I don't tell them.

Thanks

Matt Reed

Thanks for Replying Charles.  Your answer does not always work, depends on the format of the preceding paragraph. 

I did find out that if I hit BackSpace Twice instead of just once the paragraph appears as expected.  By hitting the backspace that second time, the format changes but not the text of the fact it still appears as a HeadingX.

At this point, I can work around the issue.  Still not real sure what is going on.

Thanks again.

Matt

• Marked as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator 8 hours 26 minutes ago

Thanks for Replying Charles.  Your answer does not always work, depends on the format of the preceding paragraph. 

I did find out that if I hit BackSpace Twice instead of just once the paragraph appears as expected.  By hitting the backspace that second time, the format changes but not the text of the fact it still appears as a HeadingX.

At this point, I can work around the issue.  Still not real sure what is going on.

Thanks again.

Matt

• Marked as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, February 09, 2015 3:26 AM

Hi,

I'm glad to hear you find the workaround. I'm marking the reply as answer. Thanks for your sharing. I hope someone will find the root cause.

Regards,

George Zhao
Forum Support
________________________________________
Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
If you have any feedback on our support, please click "tnfsl@microsoft.com"

For what it's worth, the behavior in Word 2013 when pressing Backspace (once) seems to be the same that I get in Word 2003 if I choose to "turn off" numbering by clicking the Number button on the Formatting toolbar.