How to "clone" a document, including outline numbering?

users
#1

The purpose is to "clone" an entire document into an empty new document.

To do so, I would select the document and paste the selection into the new
document, then load the style definitions from the original document (via
F11 - Load Styles..., all styles and Overwrite).

This reproduces everything except the outline numbering. What am I missing?

#2

I use outline numbering a lot with LO and it's always giving me fits. Just when I think I understand it, it throws me another curve.

I believe the outline numbering is controlled by the settings in the Template being used when you open an empty new document. I don't think it is controlled by paragraph styles.

At any rate, the easiest way I know to clone a document is to save it with a new name, using the "File/Save As" command. Then the original version will have the original name, and the cloned document will have a new name. I think everything should be properly reproduced then.

Virgil

#3

Hi :slight_smile:
The problem with that way is that a ton of excess coding might be saved
right along with everything else.

I suspect the o.p. is trying to clean-up a document. Maybe not though in
which case your way is really simple and very quick.

When people send me stuff for my company's (well my boss's company)
newsletter is just paste everything in as unformatted text and then use
styles to make it fit in better. Occasionally i go in and apply direct
formatting to make numbered lists or bullet-points look right but mostly i
don't bother and that makes the whole thing look more consistent
internally. I jazz it up a bit with images but mostly the aim seems to be
to make it look boring. [shrugs]
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#4

Virgil Arrington wrote

At any rate, the easiest way I know to clone a document is to save it
with a new name, using the "File/Save As" command.

the reason for cloning is - usually - to overcome difficulties with MS Word
import, e.g., with unused bibliography entries accumulated from earlier
versions of the document, etc.

For that, just copying the document won't help.

#5

Virgil Arrington wrote (19-05-14 13:40)

I believe the outline numbering is controlled by the settings in the
Template being used when you open an empty new document. I don't think
it is controlled by paragraph styles.

It's controled by settings in Tools > Outline numbering. And stored in a
document / template, but indeed not in styles.

#6

Hi :slight_smile:
Still, it's always good to give the simplest answers jic that really was
all you wanted. If nothing else it's good for the archives for people in
the future who might be really unclear about the finesses and detail.

Also it gets it out of the way and lets you know that your message has been
received by a live audience rather than vanished into the ether. It's
often tricky to get the balance right as many questions can be ambiguous or
weren't aware of some other idea that is possible with LO and maybe not so
possible with alternatives.

Anyway, welcome in and good to see you joining in. Hopefully Cor's answer
solves it?
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#7

I may be completely confused, but if you're trying to clone a document that originated in Word, then that makes things a little more complicated. In my experience, Word and LO do outline numbering in different ways and they don't translate well with each other.

Virgil

#8

Yes, that's how I understand it, and I think that's where I get frustrated. When setting up outline numbering, I find myself putting some settings in my styles and others in the outlining through "Tools > Outline Numbering". Then the Outlining overrides my styles. Then if I try to change a setting, something else changes. Sometimes I feel like I'm putting together a spring-loaded toy and trying to keep it all together without it all going, "Sproingggg!"

Virgil

#9

The solution I adopted is I created
separate files with the outline format I want (I have 4 files with
different formats). I made the outline as deep as possible so I
wouldn't have to update the format. When I am creating a new
document I copy and paste the outline into the new document and then
delete the extraneous material. It is cumbersome but it works for
me.

Jeff Hahn

#10

Jeff,

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that.

Virgil

#11

Virgil Arrington wrote

I may be completely confused, but if you're trying to clone a document
that originated in Word, then that makes things a little more
complicated. In my experience, Word and LO do outline numbering in
different ways and they don't translate well with each other.

The document originates from LO and is exported to Word.

What I learn from the discussion so far is that there is apparently no
simple solution. hm... Why could there not be an option in style loading to
simply include all outline styles?

#12

Because outlines are not controlled by styles.

Virgil