Why Use Autonumbers?

Autonumbering can technically be used for both online and print-based output, but it is usually intended for print-based output.

Following are just a few reasons for using autonumbering. For samples of formats that you might use for these purposes, see Autonumber Format Examples.

Chapter, Section, and Volume Numbers

If you are producing output that is organized into multiple chapters, sections, and/or volumes, you can apply autonumbers to those different elements. Not only does this let you produce numbers automatically for chapter, section, and volume headings, but you can also incorporate this numbering into other content (e.g., page numbers, figure captions, table headings).

Note To generate chapter numbers, you need to create an autonumber format that includes the {chapnum} command. Then specify chapter breaks in the outline TOC. See Specifying Chapter and Page Layout Breaks.

Note To generate section numbers, you need to create an autonumber format that includes the {secnum} command. Then specify section breaks in the outline TOC. See Specifying Chapter and Page Layout Breaks.

Note To generate volume numbers, you need to create an autonumber format that includes the {volnum} command. Second, you need to specify chapter breaks in the outline TOC (see Specifying Chapter and Page Layout Breaks). Third, you need to specify the autonumber flow for each volume, resetting the volume number to a specific number (see Specifying Autonumbering Flow for Output).

Note You can also insert Chapter, Section, or Volume Number variables into page layout headers. By doing this, you can automatically display the correct chapter, section, or volume number at the top or bottom of pages in the output. See Inserting Chapter, Section, and Volume Number Variables Into Frames.

Note If you are using chapter or volume autonumbers and want them to be reflected in a print index, you can do so by specifying the autonumbers at the appropriate locations in your outline TOC (instead of inserting Chapter or Volume Number variables in a page layout). See Including Page Autonumbers in Print Indexes.

Note If you are creating PDF or Word output, you do not necessarily need to create multiple documents, but you do need to create chapter breaks for the output. For more information see Specifying Chapter and Page Layout Breaks.

Paragraphs

You can apply autonumbering to different levels of paragraphs in your project.

Example You might specify that the first-level paragraphs contain number formats such as 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and so on. Maybe your second level paragraphs would be formatted as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, and so on. And finally, the third level paragraphs might be formatted as 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, and so on.

Image Captions

Perhaps you have inserted multiple images into your project, with a caption under each image. If you want the captions for each chapter to be numbered (e.g., "Image1-1," "Image 1-2," "Image 1-3," "Image 2-1," "Image 2-2"), you can apply autonumber formats to that content. If you insert a new figure caption with that format between existing captions, Flare will renumber them automatically.

For steps and examples, see Process for Autonumbers and Autonumber Format Examples.

Table Headings

Another way to make use of autonumbering is to apply them to headings for tables in your project (e.g., Table 1, Table 2, Table 3).

Page Numbering

You can easily include page numbers in content for print-based output without creating autonumber formats. However, if you want to incorporate volume, chapter, or section numbers into your pages numbers, you can so by using autonumber formats.

Lists

As an alternative to using Flare's quick list drop-down options, you can use autonumbering to create numbered lists for purposes such as step-by-step procedures or outlines.

And More…

If you can apply a paragraph style to it, you can include autonumbering in it.