[Geodesic]

This is the fourth time I have tried to ask this question in
'word.general.questions' but it never make it to the list. I am not sure if
there are intermediaries involved or technical problems. And yes, I am
waiting many hours between posts.

Like many of you, I am frustrated, disappointed, even angry at how
complicated and counterintuitive the use of outlines is in Word07. I am not
looking to create a complicated environment in which different 'levels' are
connected to very different formats. I simply want to create outlines in
which
(1.) it is easy to move elements around (to promote or demote, to move up
or down),
(2.) in which elements can be expanded or collapsed,
(3.) all with a coherent numbering scheme.

This is easy in OneNote07 where it is the default. I finally managed this
long ago in WordXP, but not without hard wiring my 'headings' so that only
one system was acceptable. Still I did it, having to "program" WordXP to even
get it to produce the most basic outlines. While I have had Word07 for over a
year I still cannot get it to produce even the most basic outline.

I should point out that if one uses the "help" of Word 07, and ask how to
create an multilevel outline, I am forwarded to how to create multilevel
numbered lists, lists which don't have the ability to expand and collapse
lower levels. This seems a flaw. When I search around further, I am
forwarded to websites that explain outlines for earlier versions of Word
(where the link between levels was clearer).

So here's the problem more simply:

Suppose I want to create a simple 1/a/1/a/ outline. I go to the outline tab
at the bottom of any page. I type something in the blank codument and assume
that Word 07 will believe I am at 'Level I.' It is unclear because, of
course, I have to go back to the Home tab on the ribbon in order to see what
style is being used, such as 'Heading 1'. I then go to the paragraph subset
of the home tab and choose multilevel outline. I see the "define new
multilevel list' option which gives some indication of what level I'm at.'

I see 1.) appear at the beginning of the first line. I hit return, see the
second element with its 2.) appear. I now demote that elements using the
shortcut shft-alt-right arrow, expecting it to turn into 'a.)' (I could use
the arrow). But while the heading on the styles above does shift to 'Heading
2,' the number sequence does not change! So I end up with outlines that look
proceed serially not like a multilevel list
1.
2.
3.
4.

If the links between the levels and the headings are broken, why is it so
hard to find any information on the Microsoft websites to fix this? Again, I
have followed other information that the Microsoft website has provided since
I simply want to begin with the "format" of each level to be the same - I
don't want blue fonts, bold or italics, changes in the space between
paragraph elements, etc. I simply want a simple outline, but with more
functionality than a numbered list (eg. including ability to expand and
collapse). In the future I might decide at some level might be bold or not.

For the record, using 'modify style,' these are the styles of the headings:

Heading 1 : Font: (Asian) +Headings Asian, (Default) Calibri, 12 pt,
Justified, Line spacing: Multiple 1.15 li, Widow/Orphan control, Keep with
next, Keep lines together, Level 1, Style: Linked, Quick Style, Priority: 10,
Following style: Normal

Heading2: Level 2, Style: Linked, Hide until used, Quick Style, Priority:
10, Based on: Heading 1, Following style: Normal

Heading3: Level 3, Style: Linked, Hide until used, Quick Style, Priority:
10, Based on: Heading 2, Following style: Normal

Etc. (I don't know anything about this Asian heading). So is there any hope
of creating even the most basic outline which will look something like:
1.
a.
b.
2.

I hope this gets through (and FYI, I am using the Vista64 OS). As a College
Prof. who has also taught writing, I would love to have a straightforward way
to explain how to create outlines in Word for college level students. At
this point, I'm sure they're ready to jump to OpenOffice or some other
competitor. I have told them that outlines are very useful for writing
documents, but I can not longer produce them in MS-Word 2007. G.