Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Differences between SEQ and LISTNUM Fields.

Differences between SEQ and LISTNUM Fields

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 15, 2018)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365


1

Tish wonders what the difference is between the SEQ and LISTNUM fields. She has a document that she would like to have divided into numbered sections, and she needs something that will update automatically if she adds or deletes a section, and something that will allow her to cross-reference.

Let's start by looking at the differences between the two fields. Here are the respective syntaxes for the two fields:

{ SEQ name [bookmark] [switches] }
{ LISTNUM "name" [switches] }

Right off the bat you can see that the SEQ field allows you to include an optional bookmark name that refers to bookmarked text elsewhere in your document. This means that you can use SEQ for cross-references, but you cannot use LISTNUM for cross-references.

It is interesting that various Help file information in Word states that LISTNUM is better for complex numbered lists. The only situation where I have found this to be true is if you want the field to interact with any automatic numbering in your document. You can, for instance, modify how automatic numbering is used within a document by using special "name" parameters that refer to the built-in numbering sequences (such as "NumberDefault", "OutlineDefault", and "LegalDefault").

While the SEQ field won't allow you to interact with automatic numbering, it provides a wider array of switches than does the LISTNUM field. (You can see a full accounting of the available switches for both fields by searching the WordTips Web site or by accessing Word's Help system.)

Experienced Word users generally find that the SEQ field is more versatile and powerful, under most circumstances, than the LISTNUM field. For this reason, you will most often find the SEQ field used for any custom numbering solutions.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (5993) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Differences between SEQ and LISTNUM Fields.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Using the SYMBOL Field

The most common way of adding symbols to a document is to use the Symbol dialog box. There is another way, however, that ...

Discover More

Searching for Tabs

Tabs don't normally show up in your printed document, but Word allows you to still search for them. All you need to do is ...

Discover More

Moving Subtotals

When you add subtotals to a worksheet, Excel typically places them in the same column that you are subtotaling. If you ...

Discover More

The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2013. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2013 For Dummies today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Cross-Reference Removes Superscript Formatting

When you add a cross-reference to your document, it provides a way to dynamically reference text in another location, ...

Discover More

Quickly Inserting the Date Your Way

Tired of messing with inserting the date and then changing it to a format that is more to your liking? There's a quick ...

Discover More

Converting All DATE Fields to Text

Fields allow you to add a lot of dynamic information to your documents. One field you can add is the DATE field, which ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 9?

2019-01-04 03:55:13

John Langham-Service

Hi question about the SEQ field, I use SEQ to serially number 18 labels on a sheet
{SEQ sampser \r19 \# "0000" \* MERGEFORMAT}
is it possible to save the highest number as custom doc property and insert it as first number +1 (eg \r36 ) after sheet is printed so than serials continue to increment

I'v googled for ages but only answers involve incrementing a single serial on a document

thanks in advance
John


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.