Auto-Numbering

How AllDrafts auto-numbers paragraphs, clauses, inline tabulations, etc.

Numbering Overview

The easiest way to handle contract numbering in AllDrafts is to insert an auto-number anywhere you need a paragraph or tabulation (a clause within a paragraph) numbered. You can insert an auto-number from the Insert menu, or by typing a # character followed by a space.

AllDrafts will automatically insert the contextually appropriate number and keep it up to date as text is added or deleted around it, or if indent levels change, and will also manage cross-references to it.

Each numbering style has nine levels, and specifies a different number rendering at each level.

When you move the mouse over an auto-number it is highlighted, along with all the other auto-numbers in that particular sequence (numbers at the same level, until interrupted by a level change). This helps you quickly check to see if a number is hard-coded or an auto-number.

An example of auto-numbering, showing two sequences (Recitals and Document) that each start at a value of one, rendered A in Recitals and I in Articles, and with a single explicit override at Section 1.1(x), where the numbering value was specifically set to x rather than d, which would have been the default next value in the sequence at this level.

Levels

There are nine numbering levels in a numbering style.

• Note: The first level is special, and is only used if a contract is split into Articles with headers in the form "Article <auto-number>".

Paragraphs take their level from their indent. You can use the toolbar buttons or tab and shift-tab to indent and outdent a paragraph, which changes its level for numbering purposes.

Tabulations

Auto-numbering within a paragraph (e.g. "clause (i) one and (ii) two") is called tabulation, and tabulations are outside the document's nine-level numbering style, with their own sequence of number styles. Tabulations are per-sentence, and re-start in a new sentence, using a different number style.

Example of tabulation numbering, where first sentence gets lower-roman numbers, and the second lower-alpha.

Numbering Sequences

Within an AllDrafts document you can have multiple numbering sequences. A sequence starts numbering from one and has a numbering style. The most common reason for two sequences is separate numbering sequences within a 'Recitals' section of a contract and the main body of the contract. (You might also have a separate numbering sequence within an Exhibit or Appendix.)

If Recitals are numbered, they typically are numbered 1, 2, 3, or A, B, C. But once you get into the body of the contract -- the core document -- you most likely want to number Articles or Sections from one again, and sometimes with a different style. (A, B, C for Recitals, but 1, 2, 3 for Sections.)

AllDrafts automatically separates Recitals and Document sequence based on headings like "Recitals" or "Background" vs "Agreement", and Exhibit and Appendix headers, but you can manually specify the sequence for a number as well. (See the right-click options below.)

Right-Click to Customize Numbering

If you wish to override the style or value of an auto-number, you can right-click on it. Changes you make will impact all of the auto-numbers that follow in sequence at the same level until the level changes.

When an auto-number has been customized, a small red triangle is shown next to it (on-screen only) to remind you that it has specific values set.

In general you should not need to customize numbering and should avoid doing so; it introduces complexity and prevents AllDrafts from managing everything for you. However there are cases where you may wish a particular style to be used, or to hard-code a specific number.

An example might be where you want to distinguish a sub-group of paragraphs that all appear at the same level; instead of a, b, c, d, e, f you may wish to see a, b, c and then x, y, z, as shown here:

An example of overriding the number value in the middle of a list of auto-numered paragraphs.

In this case right-clicking on what had been the 'd' auto-number allowed the user to choose an alternate Numbering value (24, represented as 'x' in this lower-alpha style), which then influenced subsequent numbers at this same level. In this case only the fourth auto-number has been given an override, but it impacts the fifth and sixth auto-numbers that follow at this same level.

Sequence

You can choose which sequence a number belongs to; Automatic is the default and best choice, but you can override that here if necessary.

Style

A variety of formats can be chosen for a specific auto-number.

The various style overrides available for an auto-number.

Numbering value

A way to hard-code a specific number value (shown in the presently chosen style). Changing the numbering value for one auto-number causes auto-numbers that follow at the same indent level to count up from this value.