How do I get caption numbering to number in sequence?

[Craig Q]

I am using the captioning function in word and it usually does OK, but in
some instances it gets the nubering out of order. I have ensured the anchors
are on the same paragraph and the figures or equations are below one another
in the document, but I still get some numbered out of order. Any ideas on
what I am doing wrong?

 

[Peter A]

I am using the captioning function in word and it usually does OK, but in
some instances it gets the nubering out of order. I have ensured the anchors
are on the same paragraph and the figures or equations are below one another
in the document, but I still get some numbered out of order. Any ideas on
what I am doing wrong?

Have you tried refreshing your fields?

 

[Craig Q]

Peter,

Yes, that has not corrected the problem.

Have you tried refreshing your fields?

 

[DeanH]

Usually this indicated that Track Changes is on, or that a changes has not
been accepted/rejected somewhere in the document.
For further help see
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/trackchanges/HowTrackChangesWorks.html
Hope this helps
DeanH

 

[Craig Q]

Dean,

I don't have track changes on, so that is not it. From some other reading I
have done, I think the issue may be related to using text boxes. What I do
to keep my figure or equation together with my caption is insert a text box
and then put the figure or equation in the text box and then add the caption.
This keeps my caption and figure together, but I think this may confuse Word
2007. It is just funny though that sometimes it works well and sometimes it
doesn't. I also understand that since my captions are in text boxes I may
have trouble creating a list of figures since that command does not see
captions in text boxes. If you have any other advice on how to better keep
figures and equations together with captions that allows them to move
together and automatically number sequentially, please let me know.

Thanks,

Craig

 

[DeanH]

Using Text boxes will confuse Word (not just 2007 but previous as well) with
respect to Captions.
I never use Text Boxes for Equantions and Figures. Extract them (Equations,
Figures and Captions) from their boxes (copy/paste will work) and place them
in the body of the document where you want them, ensure that the Equantions
and Figures are formatted as In Line With Text. The caption can then be
placed before or after and use Keep With Next (found in the Paragraph group)
as appropriate to maintain their relative positioning.
Once the Captions are all out of the boxes, they will now update as
described previously.
All the best
DeanH

 

[Stefan Blom]

I agree; frames and inline pictures (equations, and so on) make more sense
when you are creating captions.

However, assuming that you get the text box *anchors* in the correct order,
you should be able to fix a document that has captions (SEQ fields) inside
text boxes.

Also, note that Word 2007 *is* able to see captions inside text boxes for
the purpose of creating a table of figures.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If you want to put an Equation caption on the same line with the equation
(as is commonly done), then the best approach is to use a two-column
borderless table. Otherwise, a cross-reference to the caption will drag the
whole equation along with it.

 

[Stefan Blom]

I agree; frames and inline pictures (equations, and so on) make more sense
when you are creating captions.

Corrected version:

I agree; inline objects (and possibly frames) make more sense when you are
creating captions.

And, as Suzanne wrote, for equations it is best to use a table.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

 

[Craig Q]

Stefan (and Dean),

Thanks for your help. I just changed the text boxes to be in-line instead
of word wrapped and everything updated nicely. I also checked to be sure
Word 2007 could create the list of figures, and it does even though my
captions are in the text boxes. It all works well. Thanks again.

 

[Craig Q]

Suzanne,

Thanks for the tip. However, when I try to put the caption in the right
column of the two column table, Word 2007 forces me to put the caption above
or below the table and not in the right column. How do I get around that?

Thanks,

Craig

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Let Word put the caption where it wants and then cut/paste or drag the
caption into the table. You may want to create an AutoText entry containing
a blank caption and a dummy equation. Insert this, substitute the desired
equation, and update the caption.

 

[Craig Q]

Suzanne,

Thanks. Everything is working great now.

Craig