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Autonumbering of figures in Word
Hi,
I would like to be able to autonumber figures (grouped autoshapes etc), just like LaTex does for example.
So, I added a caption (from the insert menu) to my figure and grouped the caption with it.
Unfortunately, (due to a Bug?) Word does not update the fields inside a grouped object. It seems such a basic thing, numbering figures, but Word does not seem to support this.
I wrote a macro to ungroup all shapes (it does not work if I ungroup one shape at a time), remember the original groups, update all fields, and regroup.
The macro almost works, but the problem is that once ungrouped, the parts often scatter all over the document. If I regroup, parts don't always regroup in the same combination, and rarely does the regrouped shape appears at the original location again.
This is my macro so far. I only learned VBA a day ago, so the code may not be that fancy. I hope someone can suggest an improvement, or perhaps knows of another way of numbering figures.
Sub updateFigures()
Dim shapeArray(1 To 50) As ShapeRange
Dim totalGroups As Integer
Dim bla As Collection
Dim sShape As Shapes
Dim qwe As ShapeRange
Dim myshape As ShapeRange
Dim nCounter As Integer
Dim origShapeArray(1 To 50) As Shape 'how to set a dynamic size ?
Dim origAnchorArray(1 To 50) As Range 'for now, 50 will do
Dim dupShape As Shape
totalGroups = 0
Set sShape = ActiveDocument.Shapes
For nCounter = sShape.Count To 1 Step -1
' ungroup all grouped shapes
If (sShape(nCounter).Type = Office.MsoShapeType.msoGro
totalGroups = totalGroups + 1
'selecting Anchor prevents scattering of parts a bit
sShape(nCounter).Anchor.Pa
Set origAnchorArray(totalGroup
'remember original shape, doesn't help much...
Set dupShape = sShape(nCounter).Duplicate
dupShape.Visible = msoFalse
Set origShapeArray(totalGroups
Set qwe = sShape(nCounter).Ungroup
Set shapeArray(totalGroups) = qwe
End If
Next nCounter
' update all fields if shapes have text
For nCounter = 1 To totalGroups Step 1
Set myshape = shapeArray(nCounter)
Dim groupCnt As Integer
For groupCnt = myshape.Count To 1 Step -1
If myshape(groupCnt).TextFram
myshape(groupCnt).Select
Selection.WholeStory
Selection.Fields.Update
End If
Next groupCnt
Next nCounter
Dim regroupedShape As Shape
Dim origShape As Shape
Dim origAnchor As Range
' regroup shapes back
For nCounter = 1 To totalGroups Step 1
Set myshape = shapeArray(nCounter)
' select the same Anchor as the original shape was linked to
Set origAnchor = origAnchorArray(nCounter)
origAnchor.Paragraphs(1).R
Set regroupedShape = myshape.Regroup
regroupedShape.Select
Set origShape = origShapeArray(nCounter)
'Copy most of the original properties back
Selection.ShapeRange.Fill.
Selection.ShapeRange.Line.
Selection.ShapeRange.Line.
Selection.ShapeRange.Line.
Selection.ShapeRange.LockA
Selection.ShapeRange.Heigh
Selection.ShapeRange.Width
Selection.ShapeRange.Relat
Selection.ShapeRange.Relat
Selection.ShapeRange.Left = origShape.Left
Selection.ShapeRange.Top = origShape.Top
Selection.ShapeRange.LockA
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
origShape.Delete
Next nCounter
End Sub
I would like to be able to autonumber figures (grouped autoshapes etc), just like LaTex does for example.
So, I added a caption (from the insert menu) to my figure and grouped the caption with it.
Unfortunately, (due to a Bug?) Word does not update the fields inside a grouped object. It seems such a basic thing, numbering figures, but Word does not seem to support this.
I wrote a macro to ungroup all shapes (it does not work if I ungroup one shape at a time), remember the original groups, update all fields, and regroup.
The macro almost works, but the problem is that once ungrouped, the parts often scatter all over the document. If I regroup, parts don't always regroup in the same combination, and rarely does the regrouped shape appears at the original location again.
This is my macro so far. I only learned VBA a day ago, so the code may not be that fancy. I hope someone can suggest an improvement, or perhaps knows of another way of numbering figures.
Sub updateFigures()
Dim shapeArray(1 To 50) As ShapeRange
Dim totalGroups As Integer
Dim bla As Collection
Dim sShape As Shapes
Dim qwe As ShapeRange
Dim myshape As ShapeRange
Dim nCounter As Integer
Dim origShapeArray(1 To 50) As Shape 'how to set a dynamic size ?
Dim origAnchorArray(1 To 50) As Range 'for now, 50 will do
Dim dupShape As Shape
totalGroups = 0
Set sShape = ActiveDocument.Shapes
For nCounter = sShape.Count To 1 Step -1
' ungroup all grouped shapes
If (sShape(nCounter).Type = Office.MsoShapeType.msoGro
totalGroups = totalGroups + 1
'selecting Anchor prevents scattering of parts a bit
sShape(nCounter).Anchor.Pa
Set origAnchorArray(totalGroup
'remember original shape, doesn't help much...
Set dupShape = sShape(nCounter).Duplicate
dupShape.Visible = msoFalse
Set origShapeArray(totalGroups
Set qwe = sShape(nCounter).Ungroup
Set shapeArray(totalGroups) = qwe
End If
Next nCounter
' update all fields if shapes have text
For nCounter = 1 To totalGroups Step 1
Set myshape = shapeArray(nCounter)
Dim groupCnt As Integer
For groupCnt = myshape.Count To 1 Step -1
If myshape(groupCnt).TextFram
myshape(groupCnt).Select
Selection.WholeStory
Selection.Fields.Update
End If
Next groupCnt
Next nCounter
Dim regroupedShape As Shape
Dim origShape As Shape
Dim origAnchor As Range
' regroup shapes back
For nCounter = 1 To totalGroups Step 1
Set myshape = shapeArray(nCounter)
' select the same Anchor as the original shape was linked to
Set origAnchor = origAnchorArray(nCounter)
origAnchor.Paragraphs(1).R
Set regroupedShape = myshape.Regroup
regroupedShape.Select
Set origShape = origShapeArray(nCounter)
'Copy most of the original properties back
Selection.ShapeRange.Fill.
Selection.ShapeRange.Line.
Selection.ShapeRange.Line.
Selection.ShapeRange.Line.
Selection.ShapeRange.LockA
Selection.ShapeRange.Heigh
Selection.ShapeRange.Width
Selection.ShapeRange.Relat
Selection.ShapeRange.Relat
Selection.ShapeRange.Left = origShape.Left
Selection.ShapeRange.Top = origShape.Top
Selection.ShapeRange.LockA
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
Selection.ShapeRange.WrapF
origShape.Delete
Next nCounter
End Sub
Microsoft Office
Last Comment
Computer101
ASKER
Hmmmm, well it's an interesting aproach. I tried what you said, but the kind of caption Word adds to a picture is exactly the same kind of caption you can (manually) add to an autoshape. Just try selecting an autoshape (grouped or not) and select 'caption' from the insert menu.
The visible text box is easy enough to get rid of, just right click the box and select 'Format text box...' from the context menu.
The problem though, is exactly the same with these pictures. As soon as you group the caption text box with the picture, Word does not update the field (SEQ) anymore.
Neither does manual updating work.
The obviously solution would be to simply not group a caption with an autoshape. However, when I do that, and add text to my document, Word often places the autoshape (of picture) on the bottom of one page and the caption box on the top of the next.
I think the problem is more fundamental than we might think. Word has so much legacy code in it. Autoshapes were added relatively late to the series, and their 'field processing code' is obviously not at all compatible with them.
The visible text box is easy enough to get rid of, just right click the box and select 'Format text box...' from the context menu.
The problem though, is exactly the same with these pictures. As soon as you group the caption text box with the picture, Word does not update the field (SEQ) anymore.
Neither does manual updating work.
The obviously solution would be to simply not group a caption with an autoshape. However, when I do that, and add text to my document, Word often places the autoshape (of picture) on the bottom of one page and the caption box on the top of the next.
I think the problem is more fundamental than we might think. Word has so much legacy code in it. Autoshapes were added relatively late to the series, and their 'field processing code' is obviously not at all compatible with them.
This question has been classified as abandoned. I will make a recommendation to the moderators on its resolution in the next round. I would appreciate any comments by the experts that would help me in making a recommendation.
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HAGD:O)Bruintje
EE Cleanup Volunteer
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ASKER
I am still interested in the answer, but to be honest I think the problem is unsolvable; that is Word 2000 and earlier are simply lacking this feature or have a bug in their implementation.
On the bright side, I do have been able to autonumber figures where the caption is grouped with the figure, but it only works in Word XP. The trick is to set tools->options->print->upd
Again, this only works in Word XP.
It works most conviently by putting the figure (after the caption has been grouped with it) in a drawing canvas, and use a "style" to control the distance between the figure and the surrounding text (top and bottom). Use draw->relative to canvas to center the figure.
Unfortunately there are still some glitches. Although field updating now works, the build-in TOF as found in Insert->Reference->Index and Tables->Table of Figures does not see {seq figure} fields in the caption, and therefore does not work. The Insert->Reference->Cross Reference->Numbered item/Figure + Page number does not work either. The cross-reference always outputs 0, no amount of field updating puts it to the real page number.
On the bright side, I do have been able to autonumber figures where the caption is grouped with the figure, but it only works in Word XP. The trick is to set tools->options->print->upd
Again, this only works in Word XP.
It works most conviently by putting the figure (after the caption has been grouped with it) in a drawing canvas, and use a "style" to control the distance between the figure and the surrounding text (top and bottom). Use draw->relative to canvas to center the figure.
Unfortunately there are still some glitches. Although field updating now works, the build-in TOF as found in Insert->Reference->Index and Tables->Table of Figures does not see {seq figure} fields in the caption, and therefore does not work. The Insert->Reference->Cross Reference->Numbered item/Figure + Page number does not work either. The cross-reference always outputs 0, no amount of field updating puts it to the real page number.
No comment has been added lately, so it's time to clean up this TA.
I will leave a recommendation in the Cleanup topic area that this question is:
PAQ/No Refund
Please leave any comments here within the next seven days.
PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS COMMENT AS AN ANSWER!
John Pullin
EE Cleanup Volunteer
I will leave a recommendation in the Cleanup topic area that this question is:
PAQ/No Refund
Please leave any comments here within the next seven days.
PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS COMMENT AS AN ANSWER!
John Pullin
EE Cleanup Volunteer
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I found you could add captions to an autoshape (grouped or otherwise) if you create the autoshape in another word document (you don't need to save it), then Copy/Paste Special it as a picture instead of autoshape. However, it was still a bit glitchy (created a visible text box around the caption instead of doing a tidy caption like it did for other types of figures).
How many of your figures are autoshapes and how many are other formats? If there are only a few that are autoshapes, it might be worth playing with the captioning because it works well for the figure types on the preset list. However, if they are almost all autoshapes, it may be more trouble than it's worth.
If you want more details on the autonumbering through captions, let me know. Also, I only played with this for a few minutes so it may be possible to get it working more smoothly with autoshapes as well.