Preplexing MS Word Style Problem

Subject: Preplexing MS Word Style Problem
From: "Caroline Anne Richardson" <richardson -dot- caroline -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:15:13 -0500

Hi Folks,

Upon recently changing jobs, I have also changed authoring tools from Adobe
FrameMaker to Microsoft Word 2003. While familiar with Word, I am finding
myself inevitably vexed by the Styles tool, which I am slowly becoming
re-familiar with after so much time in Frame. *sob*

Here is my specific problem.

I have created a .dot file with the styles for my documentation. Looks
snazzy, I'm happy with it. I've used it several times with no problem. I
have attached this .dot file to the document I am currently creating. So
far, so good. Some tweaking, but its Word, I have to allow for some
*grumble* weirdness.

However, I have noticed that every time I save and close this document, then
re-open it, two of the styles (namely both Outline Heading styles) revert to
an indent and tab stop I did not specify in the .dot file. I have repeatedly
changed the style back to its original (in the document, not the template),
with several options turned on or off, and get the same result each time I
re-open the (re-saved) document. Specifically, I have:

- Ensured that the style is not based on another style.
- Ensured that the following style is a body text style which has straight
forward formatting (no bullets or indents)
- Ensured that the style is updated in the template attached to the
document. (clicked yon left-side "Add to template" check box in Modify)
- Checked/Not checked the Automatically Update box, with no change in effect
either way.

Of course, there are other weirdness factors associated with this template I
have created. If I want to auto-number, it automatically assumes a Level 1
Outline Heading and goes all wonky. I also have issues with bulleted
lists... but this is nothing new to Word.

I implore you fine writerly folk out there to send me a nugget or two about
where I may be formatting wrong within my styles. I may yet redo the .dot
and re-apply it to the document to see if it works... Saving that, I may
break down and buy a good "Learn Word 2003" book. Any recommendations?

Thank you for your time and brain cycles, I look forward to your replies.

~Caroline A. Richardson
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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