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How to use sections to create numbered paragraphs
How to use sections to create numbered paragraphs

Learning how to format your output to create numbered blocks of text.

Claudia King avatar
Written by Claudia King
Updated over 5 years ago

Getting your numbering formatting right in Automio can be a tricky skill to wrap your head around, but once you've got it down you'll find it so easy to create perfectly formatted documents. 

The first step is to learn the difference between the tools used to create a numbered vs unnumbered block of text:

  • Section points are used to create numbered blocks of text.

  • Paragraph points are used to create blocks of text which are unnumbered but begin on a new line from the previous block of text.

The second step is to get out of the habit of manually entering in your paragraph numbers; Automio works it out for you, meaning you can focus on content rather than formatting.

Headings

If you want to have numbered sections, you must begin with a 'top section' or a 'zero-level section'. Zero-level sections create an unnumbered block of text in a larger and bolder font than the rest of the text in the document, so they are perfect for document headings.

The reason you need to have a zero-level section is because for numbered sections to work, they need a section to 'nest' under.

To create your top section, just add a Section point using the 'add output' function of the tool, give it a label and edit the body of the text the way you want it. Don't touch the 'parent section' box; it should be showing "No parent section".

Paragraph 1, 2, 3...

Once you're ready for your first numbered block of text, you need to add a 'level-one' section. To do this, you add a section point using the 'add output' tool. Then:

  1. Click the pencil mark on the new section point to edit it.

  2. Give the section a label to help you distinguish which point it is in the flow.

  3. Click on the drop-down menu in the 'Parent section' box. Select the option which shows as "1. [Heading label]". In doing this you are telling Automio which level the text needs to nest under.

  4. Now edit the body of your text with your content. You do not need to insert a number at the start of your text; you've already told Automio to do that by choosing a parent section.

No matter which whole-number paragraph you are editing in your document (whether it be paragraph 1 or 101), you will always make it a 'level-one' section by telling Automio that its parent section is the document heading.

Need more levels? Keep scrolling!

Sub-paragraph 1.1, 1.2, 1.3...

Creating sub-paragraphs (and beyond!) uses the same process as creating your first-level sections as described above. The trick is to make sure you make the 'parent section' the one you want this block of text to nest under.

  • Whether you want to create a sub-paragraph 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3, the process is the same: select the 'parent section' which shows "2. [Level-One Section label]". We call these level-two sections.

  • Similarly, if you want to create a sub-paragraph 1.1 a, this is a 'level-three section' and you'd create it by selecting the parent section which shows "3. [Level-Two Section label]".

Once you're ready to jump back out from your sub-paragraphs, just go back to selecting the relevant level in your parent sections (i.e. "No Parent Section" for a heading without a number, "1. [Heading label]" for a level-one section, etc).

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