Getting a numbered list correctly numbered
Asked by Dave Sweetser:

I've created a numbered list in Confluence. By the time I've inserted pictures and done some sublists, my main numbering is completely wrong. The list has restarted itself at different spots such that I now have three paragraphs numbered 1 at various places in the list.

Without starting over, how do I go to one of the paragraphs numbered 1 and say "You're really paragraph 4". In Microsoft Word, for example, I can set any list element to have any number I want. Can I do this with Confluence and then have the list continue sequentially from whatever paragraph number I specify?

For example, if I tell a paragraph "You're really paragraph 4", I'd want the next paragraph to automatically be paragraph 5.

Thanks for your help with this question.


Answers:
author: Stavros_Rougas_EasyApps
body: [@Dave Sweetser](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5378261) I suspect you don't want to pay for an app but they might bring valuation functionality you didn't think of.

If you have moved to data center [look here](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/search?hosting=dataCenter&product=confluence&query=numbered%20headings).

For cloud [here](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/addons/app/confluence/newest?hosting=cloud&query=numbered%20headings).

We make [Numbered Headings by Easy App](https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1232171/numbered-headings-by-easy-apps?hosting=cloud&tab=overview) (cloud only) and I would suggest you test 2-3. I know it is an investment of time, but medium to long term is can pay off. For example our app automatically updates the numbering whenever you republish a page. Some you will find easier to use than others. And can be a major price difference between apps.


author: Barbara Szczesniak
body: [@Dave Sweetser](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5378261) There was an article posted (in July 2023 when they closed [CONFCLOUD-7794](https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONFCLOUD-7794?error=login_required&error_description=Login+required&state=3a83c9c3-b29d-4f79-a155-7deda54508ca), I believe) that I can't find for the life of me that explained the method Atlassian implemented to do this.

Anyway, say you have paragraphs 1, 2, and 3, then you insert an image, a note panel, indented paragraph, etc., and then you want to restart your numbered list with 4.

I believe these are the steps (though I'd feel better if I could link you to the page):

1. In the next blank paragraph, click the **numbered list**button to get a numbered paragraph with 1.
2. Press ++Backspace++ to remove the number.
3. Type **4.** and press ++Space++. This restarts your list with 4 (use whatever number you need).
4. Repeat these steps everywhere you need to continue your list numbering (using the appropriate numbering style for the list level).


author: Rilwan Ahmed
body: Hi [@Dave Sweetser](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5378261) ,

Welcome to the community

Before starting the paragraph, use the **number list** macro from the macro bar. After a paragraph is completed, hit the **Enter** key from keyboard. It will auto increment the numbers.

If you want to sub list, then hit **Enter** key and hit the **Tab** key.

To change from the sub list to main number, hit the **Enter** key **twice**.

To have a blank line, hit **Shift+Enter**. No number will be added in between

![image.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/295103iF28F033BB0230CBD/image-dimensions/334x205?v=v2 "image.png")


author: Munnir Abdulhamid
body: [@Dave Sweetser](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/5378261) Confluence doesn't provide a direct feature to automatically continue numbering from a specified point,you can only do it manually or you can used macros instead.

comments: author: Dave Sweetser
body: I don't know either of those methods, can you elaborate?

I don't know how to enter a paragraph number manually, the Confluence editor doesn't seem to take a number I enter manually. If I start a paragraph by typing a number, the editor just assumes the number is the first text in the paragraph, it doesn't treat the number as the paragraph number.

Also, I've looked through the macros before but never saw any macro that related to paragraph numbering, can you let me know what macro(s) can be used to renumber paragraphs?

Thanks again for your help with this.


Tags: confluence-server

server