What Are Automatic Paragraph Numbers?

Background Information for New Users. If you are already familiar with automatic paragraph numbering, feel free to skip to the next section, "What Are Snapnumbers?"

Overview. Automatic paragraph numbers are codes placed into a document instead of typing actual characters. They are most commonly used to sequentially number paragraphs. The numbering codes generate whatever number is appropriate at that point in the document (even when the document is edited and paragraphs are rearranged). There are two major benefits to using automatic paragraph numbers: (1) they prevent many numbering errors (for example, two paragraph C's, but no paragraph D); and (2) they automatically renumber appropriately when the document is edited. So, for example, in a document that contains 100 numbered paragraphs, if a new Paragraph No. 1 is inserted, all of the other paragraph numbers are automatically incremented.

Levels. Most legal documents use more than one level of numbering. The document shown here uses three levels: Level 1 is an uppercase Roman numeral followed by a period (I. II. III. ...); Level 2 is an uppercase alpha character followed by a period (A. B. C. ...); and Level 3 is an arabic numeral followed by a period (1. 2. 3. ...). When using automatic paragraph numbers, instead of physically typing a number into the document, you choose a numbering level and the code is inserted, resulting in whatever number is appropriate at that point in the document.

Numbering Schemes. A numbering scheme determines the appearance of each level of numbering in a document. Here are a few sample numbering schemes included with Snapnumbers. (Note that only the first 3 levels of each scheme are used in the sample document.)

Normal Numbering Scheme

Level 1:

I.

Level 2:

A.

Level 3:

1.

Level 4:

a.

Level 5:

(1)

Level 6:

(a)

Level 7:

(i)

Level 8:

(A)

Level 9:

(I)

Legal Numbering Scheme

Level 1:

1.

Level 2:

1.1

Level 3:

1.1.1

Level 4:

1.1.1.1

Level 5:

1.1.1.1.1

Level 6:

1.1.1.1.1.1

Level 7:

1.1.1.1.1.1.1

Level 8:

1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

Level 9:

1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

Agreement Numbering Scheme

Level 1:

Article I

Level 2:

Section 1.1

Level 3:

1.1.1

Level 4:

a.

Level 5:

(1)

Level 6:

(a)

Level 7:

(i)

Level 8:

(A)

Level 9:

(I)