Discussion on:

Office challenge: Can you continue numbering by column?

...can be done by creating literal columns in the document and connecting the single column table accross column margins.

What worked for me was to create the table, highlight the first column, then click number. Separately, I highlighted the second column, then I clicked number. It numbered from 1 to n. As you add rows, the two columns add numbers at the bottom separately. When you're done adding rows, just highlight and right-click on the first number in the second column, then choose "Set numbering value...". Type in the n+1 where n is the number of rows. If you add rows later, you do have to renumber. Does anyone have a fix without that flaw?

I guess this is why I use WordPerfect. It just does it. No complicated manuevering.

If I understand the query correctly, this is easy enough to do. Apologies to Rick if this is what he intends.

Set up a single-column table and remove the boundary lines, if required.

Number the cells with Format> Bullets and Numbering as you normally would.

Select the table and go to Format> Columns, and set up number of columns, width, space between etc as required.

Hopefully, that accomplishes what Susan has in mind. If not, I look forward to the correct solution.

Highlight the table, then on the "home" tab, select the numbering format. Then, no matter if you add additional rows or columns, Word will keep the numbering sequence correctly.

BTW the procedure I described also keeps you numbering format when you merge cells.

Drag across the first row of the table. Use the format painter to copy the numbering format to the other rows.