This feature is a must for my team. We're using confluence for documentation and not being able to continue the numbers is a pain! 

It's so sad!

I was wondering why the screenshots are looking so old! Then I noticed as well that the issue was reported in 2007

Re: Status update Feb 2022 

Progress definition of:

an expression of action in making steps towards a goal, e.g. this ticket (not). 

Still stuck since 2007 on 'gaining interest'...

OMG... just noticed that according to this ticket, the issue was reported in 2007..!!!!

This feature would be very helpful.  Please consider implementing this soon.

At this point I don't think Atlassian even care anymore.

@pavelpigalov .... I hear you brother

@Nicholas Wade, I'm just tired of stumbling on all these over and over...

@pavelpigalov.... so we can take it you are a 'little' upset mon ami?

Blah-blah-blah, and still this is not resolved, moreover it's even UNASSIGNED.

Such a shame making your users to wait basic stuff for ages

I also agree... very well described @Nicholas Wade. 

I often want to put content in instructions, especially warning or note markups, which can not be done even with the shift-enter work around. I then need to either put all the warnings at the end of the instruction, or use bullet points instead of numbers. Neither of which are ideal.

This limitation is frustration... continuation of numbering is very basic functionally that you expect to have in any documentation tool. Looking forward to this being remedied.

John

I 100% agree with @Nicholas Wade on this. He described the problem very well.

Well I'm glad to see that finally after a couple of years, this problem is being taken seriously. But the images shown, do not fully document the problem:

• You should not have to do a soft return to incorporate anything in a list (which is the current method)
• You should be able to include insert /note, and insert /several other objects elsewhere in a list, such as a code block (not just text formatted as code) or paragraph text
• You should be able to incorporate tables in a sequentially numbered list
• You should be able to include pretty much any other object that you would normally expect in a sequential list
• You should be able to include bulleted lists in any sequentially numbered list

Sequential lists are used primarily for logical order i.e., instructional steps. Instructions require information supporting the instruction i.e., tables, bulleted lists, graphics, etc.. It may mean that a table in a sequentially numbered list is followed by a bulleted list before returning to the numbered list. It may mean that a sequentially numbered list is followed by an insert /code snippet or insert /note. The point being, that to resolve this numbering problem properly, the team must think of the various ways the list may be used.

I would add, that Confluence could also do with paragraph and heading numbering. There are many instances where numbered paragraphs and numbered heading are required for official regulatory documents. 

Adding a Better Code Block, for example. The block cannot be moved into the list

(( I don't have permission to add a screen shot ))

That's great when first making something, Matthew, but as things change and get updated, it isn't always possible.

The trick is to make sure you have a number after the location you want to insert text/image/etc.

1. Step one
2. Step two (step I want to insert after)
3. Step three

1. Step one
2. Step two (step I want to insert after)
   Note: Obligatory note text.
3. Step three

This is not an acceptable work around because if you start a section that has special notes in it or code insert or other things you cannot continue your numbering scheme. I know there are times it works but there are a lot of times that it doesn't.

It takes a little getting used to but the Shift+Enter is a totally acceptable workaround. 

Talk about a bummer. This is very basic functionality. I'm really concerned that it has been allowed to go unaddressed for so long. My org is planning to migrate from confluence server to cloud soon, and this has me questioning my choice to store test documentation in Confluence. We also have access to Sharepoint, which does not have this issue...

We also have this issue.

I also have this issue. Please make it happen soon!

Yeah, it's a sh!tty workaround. I had a rant about it two weeks ago. 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaeladdison101_implement-a-feature-that-allows-to-continue-activity-6890137597079887872-ZYt7

The status update from yesterday suggests Atlassian might fix the problem. Only taken 15 years!

I know it sounds ridiculous as a work around, but I've taken screenshots of what I wanted to put there and the user doesnt know the difference. Basically just taking a picture of what I want to put in there. Again, I know its ridiculous to have to do it.

Also, the above work around (shift-enter), doesn't seem to work for adding notes/info/warning/error panels etc. These always get re-directed to the end of the list. I find this the most frustrating part of this issue as there doesn't seem to be a work around, and sometime it is very important to associate a warning with a particular line item in an instruction list. I often need to resort to bullet points, instead of numbered lists in this case which isn't ideal.

@Lance

That seems to work okay for pictures, but not for Note Panels, Info Panels, Tables, or other objects I might want to insert between numbered items.

@kathy - I have managed to get around similar needs with shift & enter. May want to give it a try.
Make the list of multiple items, then shift + Enter, then add your pic.  

I need to be able to insert images, code snippets etc. in a list (without those images or snippets being numbered) and then continue the numbering for the next item in the list. This is a really important feature and the lack of it is seriously hampering.

@attlasian do something

Back to word for documentation I guess. almost 5 years and 200+ votes and it's not even to the point of being reviewed? Even MediaWIKI can do this!

As others have mentioned, it's a huge pain to break numbered lists. This also breaks down copied content from other tools that's pasted into Confluence. I'd like to use macros in between numbered items, including adding images/screenshots in between steps without having to make it a sub-item of the list to get the numbering to stay (though I've found that only works for images, not for macros – and our team especially relies on the /info macros).

I want to clarify something and add a use case.

First: it's not just a matter of being able to insert a table or image between numbered items and have the numbering continue. What's really needed is the ability to START NUMBERING AT ANY NUMBER. For example, to start numbering at "4" instead of the default "1."

USE CASE: I have an "include" that lists the first two steps in a procedure. There are several different procedures that begin with these two steps, after which they diverge. So I use the include for the first two steps then continue with regular text for the variations. Example:

To do the thing:

1. Do the first step.
2. Do the second step.
3. Do the third step in variation A, which involves apples.
4. Do the fourth step in variation A, which involves apples.

To do the thing:

1. Do the first step.
2. Do the second step.
3. Do the third step in variation B, which involves oranges.
4. Do the fourth step in variation B, which involves oranges.

In the above two examples, the RED stuff is a reusable include. But I cannot achieve this numbering in Confluence Cloud because steps 3 and 4 are outside of the include, so they reset back to "1." I would like to be able to override the non-include "1" by replacing it with "3."

How about a numbered list with different levels, done in MS Word using tab:

I wish to add my voice to clamor for this feature! The lack of flexibility with numbering makes it extraordinarily tedious to make good documentation. 

I want this:

1. blah
2. blah
3. blah

(macro)

4. blah. 

and the 4th blah will automatically indent, like it does with Microsoft Word. Basically I want Microsoft Word, but online. 

It doesn't work any more when inserting a Note (screenshot-3)...

Any idea plz?

Atlassian really seems to be dropping the ball on basic features AND on listening to their users. Come on folks...

The original request for this feature (https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONFSERVER-1929?error=login_required&error_description=Login+required&state=c0fb33a7-cd2c-4c45-8bd4-a217c0a51ea0) is from 2004.  Which means this feature will finally be an adult next year. Perhaps Atlassian is just waiting for it to move out so it no longer needs to support it.

I just copy/pasta'd from OneNote, was sad that this doesn't work, and ended up here. Hopefully the recent interest in getting this basic functionality online get some traction.

It still amazes me that "This suggestion needs more unique domain votes and comments before being reviewed by [someone who cares and has actual power on the Atlassian] team." FWIW, here's the Atlassian Community thread (https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Confluence-questions/How-to-continue-a-numbered-list/qaq-p/349318) that seems to have the most critical mass even though Atlassian seems to be ignoring it because it's "Solved".

P.S. It's sad that the way to add an inline link in Jira is still from more than a decade ago.

P.P.S. It's really sad that the screenshots for this suggestion appear to be from Windows XP.

Hey, Atlassian!

You know where this works?

IN ONENOTE!!!

And it's effortless.

embarrassing...

14 YEARS LATER

The SHIFT+ENTER does not work with the new editor, so there is no work around anymore.

1. I need to have a list

Then a bunch of text and images

1. Then the list needs to be continued. Simple enough!

Get it DONE!!

This is really a blocker. Please fix this soon

This is a major blocker for us. We write technical documents with procedure descriptions in Confluence and the continuation of numbered lists after certain style elements is a very basic editor feature. Is there any plan to fix this soon?

Basic text editors are able to have macros or other data inline, and it is an indictment of how poor Confluence is built to be used as any tool for documentation. Even this COMMENT doesn't allow for what is being asked, but Confluence cannot do this? I don't understand the priority and the lack of care for implementing something so easy.

1. a

   Heading 1	Heading 2
   Col A1	Col A2

1. b
2. c
   My title

   Some text with a title

1. d

I'm confused by what exactly the new editor was supposed to improve if not these glaring design issues?   I was under the impression that the reason Confluence Wiki format markdown was removed was precisely because it doesn't support nested macros well (due to the syntax that lacks closing tags).  Now I don't have a clue.  Was is just because you wanted to use the new flexgrid layouts?

I'm a fairly new user to Confluence and been working on converting some of our documents and have been disappointed that this feature isn't working properly.

As dan mentioned, the usage of Info Panels loses a lot of value when the numbered list is broken whenever it's inserted, since having all the panels at the bottom of a longer How-To tutorial with several pictures is pointless if the information I want to highlight can be hidden several pages down.

I can see that this issue was first raised in 2007 and has still not been fixed inspite of this being a very basic request.

I use Confluence Cloud. Inserting any of the following in a numbered list breaks the numbering:

• Tables
• Info, Note, Success, Warning and Error panels
• Expands

Using the Source Editor for Confluence leads to conversion issues, hence is not an acceptable solution.

Since I cannot attach images to this ticket, I am posting a URL with the images https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Confluence-questions/Re-Re-Numbered-lists-restarting-at-1-after-bulleted-lis/qaq-p/1483173/comment-id/188973#M188973

@mkhairuliana why is this marked as Gathering Interest?

The Atlassian supported `How-to Article` Template recommends using info panels to highlight important information saying the following in the Steps instructions:

Highlight important information in a panel like this one. To edit this panel's color or style, select one of the options in the menu below.

If Atlassian's maintained help-text is directs users to do something that is non-functional, then either this should be converted to a bug, or the `How-to Article` template has a documentation bug.

I recommend we do one of the following:

• convert this issue to a bug
• create a linked issue for the the `How-to Article` Template to improve its documentation to better reflect the available features.

The workaround does not work when you all an info note to the step. This is
extremely annoying and I am really disappointed about the way you guys
prioritize development tasks. This is not a feature, it is a critical
Bug!!!!! I expect you guys to treat it as such.

I am creating an online help system and need to be able to insert a table (for if/then scenarios) within a numbered list and have not been able to find a solution for this. This makes creating professional documentation impossible. Can we please have a solution for this?

I need to be able to restart numbering with a different number. Will this feature support that requirement?

The shift+Enter doesn't allow me to format the image in there either - I need the images to be centered within the text block but if I use Shift+Enter it inherits the same as the paragraph before which is left-justified. The workaround doesn't work!

The workaround Shift+enter works well enough when I am only working with text; however, it fails completely when I try; for example, to enter a table in the middle of a section of numbered steps. I have found no good solution to this particular case aside from inserting the table outside the numbered steps.

Additionally, I find it embarrassing to have to explain to end-users that you have to use a cludgy work around (Shift+enter) to use numbering in an application in 2020. This was a 1990s problem and it has been solved.

Just about everything restarts the numbering, even an empty paragraph!

What about this issue? Is it going to be fixed? I don't want restarting numbering of my list in layout's second column.

Any Update on this? 

TL;DR summary: page editors should be able to specify what number a numbered list starts with.

Need to be able to specify the start number for any ordered (numbered) list directly in Confluence Editor. This capability is supported in HTML 5 via the start attribute of the ol tag, so clearly it is implementable.

Note: Using the Source Editor Plugin to go into the page's HTML source as a workaround to the Confluence Editor, however, is not viable since the start attribute is not supported by the plugin either!. See SOURCE-214 for that issue.

Any update on this? I'd like to be able to add headings at certain sections of a numbered list. For example, a priority list:

Immediate Priority:
1.) Do A
2.) Do B

High Priority:
3.) Do C
4.) Do D

Medium Priority:
5.) Do E
Etc...

I've not yet found a way to do this, without manually numbering. Thoughts! Thank you!!

I would like to see something similar here as well. I have asked a question at Atlassian Answers that explains at in detail. The thing in a nutshell is to number the ordered list from high to low.

This is still a massive issue for us (Conf 4.2). Within numbered lists, we need to be able to add the info macro and tables but have the numbering continue afterwards.

Never mind. It looks like I can do it in version 4.

Almost 3 years later and 5 years since the original report I have the same issue with Confluence 3.5. I can rarely use numbered lists due to this issue because I almost always have code elements sprinkled throughout a procedure that would otherwise benefit from automatic sequencing of steps.

Digging up an old issue, I have just tried this with the latest version of Confluence (2.10.3) and while numbering appears ok within the WYSIWYG editor using the technique above, as soon as I Save the document, new lines are added and numbering is discontinued again. Using current version of Firefox. Are there any current known issues with numbered lists as above? If I simply use the wiki markup I can get around it but on opening it again in abrowser with WYSIWYG editor support, new lines are automatically added again, causing numbered lists to break.

With kind regards, Paul.

Hi Bijan,

This can be done using the "Shift+Enter" to perform a newline rather than using "Enter" as both gives different line breaks to the editor.
Following steps give a similar result:

1. Press the "Number List" icon followed by some text.
2. Use "Shift+Enter" to create newline (note: numbering list did not show when this is perform)
3. Add content to the newline (example: some text, attach images etc.)
4. To create a newline without numbering list, use "Shift+Enter" again.
5. Use "Enter" to create a newline and to input the next number list.

Attached (screenshot-3) is the result obtained from the steps provided. Please let me know how it goes.

Cheers,
Tony

Hi Tony,

I have attached the screenshot. Note that the numbers are interrupted by other formats, such as images and notes.

Hope this help.

Bijan

Hi Bijan,

Apologies for misinterpreting your issue. To ensure that we are on the right track, I have attached a screenshot illustrating what I understand from your description. Is that what you mean? If that is not the case, could you please provide us a test Word Document to show us your desire output.

Thanks,
Tony

Thanks for the response.

What we are looking for is the ability to have a sequence of numbers, then have other text (not bullets) and then be able to resume the numbering. I have tested the numbering and bullet scheme, but that is not the feature we are looking for.

Hi Bijan,

What you intend to achieve is definitely possible with the usage of the "Indent" and "Outdent" icons provided next to the "number list" icon. Unfortunately, there's a bug with this feature and it is being tracked here:

http://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONF-4907

Please cast your vote and add a watch on it.
Once the bug has been fixed, you can use the following steps to create the list that you want.

1. Press the "Number List" icon.
2. Insert some text followed by a new line.
3. Press the "Indent" icon.
4. Press the "Bullet List" icon.
5. Insert some text followed by a new line.
6. Press the "Number list" icon.
7. Press the "Outdent" icon.
8. Insert some text.

You can see that the number list will have a sequence.

Regards,
Tony