Multi-level list InDesign

Question

I am formating a book chapter and got stuck with tables, figures and sections numberings. I am trying for days. Can someone help me please?

The book is organised like this:

Chapter 1 Title (This is not a numbered list. It is a text frame with its own paragraph style and I change it manually)

Some introductory paragraph. (The style of this first paragraph is different because it has a Drop Cap character and every chapter starts with it, but it is based on the normal "Body" paragraph style).

Figure 1. Caption

Table 1. Caption

Primary Section 1

Figure 2. Caption

Secondary section 1

Figure 3. Caption

Table 2. Caption

Tertiary section 1

Secondary section 2

Figure 4. Caption

Table 3. Caption

Primary section 2

Figure 5. Caption

Table 4. Caption

End of chapter.

Chapter 2... and so on (See figure 1)

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I need all lists to restart in every chapter. As we can see in the image, they

I have one paragraph style for each list.

It is also important to mention that figures 1, 2... and Chapter 1, 2... are not in the same frames as the other elements. But they're all in the same layer. I don't know if this affects the lists' behavior.

I played with the list levels, created other lists and I just couldn't do it.

I tried to set my Drop Cap paragraph as a Level 1 numered list with no numbering, so it could restart the other lists, theoretically. It didn't worked.

Answer 1

If working with a .INDB file (Indesign book), with separate docs as chapters:

Primary section: set as numbered list - level 1. Create a new list, uncheck "Continue Numbers From Previous Document In Book" in the options, then name and save the list. (No need to set your "Drop cap" paragraph as a list)

Secondary section: set as numbered list - level 2. Select previously created List. Check "Restart Numbers At This Level After any previous level.

Tertiary section: set as numbered list - level 3. Select previously created List. Check "Restart Numbers At This Level After any previous level.

Figure: set as numbered list - level 4. Select previously created List. Uncheck "Restart Numbers At This Level After any previous level.

Table: set as numbered list - level 5. Select previously created List. Uncheck "Restart Numbers At This Level After any previous level.

For all, select Mode: "Continue From Previous Number"

Don't forget to synchronize docs and - most important thing - to update all numbers in the book panel options. Of course, you can set Figure (and Tables) Numbered list option as "Figure ^#.^t", so you won't have to type "figure" (or "table") every time.

If working in a single .INDD file, with threaded frames

Same process than above with one difference:
Primary section: In your list options uncheck "Continue Numbers Across Stories".
Important: please note that it means that text frames must be threaded, otherwise, sections numbering will restart at 1

If working in a single .INDD file, with unthreaded frames

Chapter: set as numbered list - level 1. Create a new list, check "Continue Numbers Across Stories" in the options. Leave "Numbers" section blank and set Mode to "Start at..."

Adjust other sections levels: Primary section > level 2, Secondary section > level 3, and so on...

In figure and table para styles, set "Restart Numbers At" option to 1: