WD: Changing One Caption Label Changes All Matching Captions

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a and 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you modify the label for one caption, other captions that use the same label are also modified. In addition, if you change the numbering format, all related captions are also changed to reflect the new numbering format.

For example, if you have the following captions in your document,

   Table 1
   Table 2

CAUSE

By design, the fields that generate the caption numbering are recalculated when you add or change a caption.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, manually modify both the label and the SEQ field instead of using the Caption command (Insert menu). To do this, press SHIFT+F9 (OPTION+F9 on the Macintosh) to toggle field codes view on. The caption label and SEQ field look like this:

   Table {SEQ Table \* ARABIC}

   Figure {SEQ Figure \* roman)

MORE INFORMATION

The caption label and SEQ field use the following syntax:

   Label Name {SEQ Identifier [Switches]}

   Switch              Number Format
   ------              -------------
   \*ARABIC            1, 2, 3...
   \*ROMAN             I, II, III...
   \*roman             i, ii, iii...
   \*ALPHABETIC        A, B, C...
   \*alphabetic        a, b, c...