<abstractNum> (Abstract Numbering Definition)

This element specifies a set of properties which shall dictate the appearance and behavior of a set of numbered paragraphs in a WordprocessingML document. These properties are collectively called an abstract numbering definition, and are the basis for all numbering information in a WordprocessingML document.

Although an abstract numbering definition contains a complete set of numbering, it shall not be directly referenced by content (hence the use of abstract). Instead, these properties shall be inherited by a numbering definition instance using the <num> element (§2.9.16<)>, which can then itself be referenced by content.

example: 
<w:abstractNum w:abstractNumId="4">
  <w:nsid w:val="FFFFFF7F" />
  <w:multiLevelType w:val="singleLevel" />
  <w:lvl w:ilvl="0">
    <w:start w:val="1" />
    <w:lvlText w:val="%1." />
    <w:lvlJc w:val="left" />
    <w:pPr>
      <w:tabs>
        <w:tab w:val="num" w:pos="720" />
      </w:tabs>
      <w:ind w:left="720" w:hanging="360" />
    </w:pPr>
  </w:lvl>
</w:abstractNum>

This <abstractNum> element defines an abstract numbering definition which shall be inherited by any numbering definition instance which inherits from abstract numbering definition with an <abstractNumId> equal to 4. ]

Parent Elements

<numbering> (§2.9.17)

Child Elements

Subclause

<lvl> (Numbering Level Definition)

§2.9.7

<multiLevelType> (Abstract Numbering Definition Type)

§2.9.13

<name> (Abstract Numbering Definition Name)

§2.9.14

<nsid> (Abstract Numbering Definition Identifier)

§2.9.15

<numStyleLink> (Numbering Style Reference)

§2.9.22

<styleLink> (Numbering Style Definition)

§2.9.29

<tmpl> (Numbering Template Code)

§2.9.31

Attributes

Description

<abstractNumId> (Abstract Numbering Definition ID)

Specifies a unique number which shall be used as the identifier for this abstract numbering definition. This unique number shall be referenced by any numbering definition instance in order to inherit the properties specified by this abstract numbering definition.

<w:abstractNum w:abstractNumId="4">
  <w:nsid w:val="FFFFFF7F" />
  <w:multiLevelType w:val="singleLevel" />
  <w:lvl w:ilvl="0">
    <w:start w:val="1" />
    <w:lvlText w:val="%1." />
    <w:lvlJc w:val="left" />
    <w:pPr>
      <w:tabs>
        <w:tab w:val="num" w:pos="720" />
      </w:tabs>
      <w:ind w:left="720"/>
    </w:pPr>
  </w:lvl>
</w:abstractNum>

The <abstractNumId> attribute serves as a unique identifier for the abstract numbering definition, allowing numbering definition instances (§2.9.16<)> with a <abstractNumId> element with a matching attribute value to inherit the abstract numbering definition properties, for example: 

<w:numbering>
  ...
  <w:num w:numId="2">
    <w:abstractNumId w:val="0" />
  </w:num>
  <w:num w:numId="3">
    <w:abstractNumId w:val="1" />
  </w:num>
  <w:num w:numId="4">
    <w:abstractNumId w:val="4" />
  </w:num>
  <w:num w:numId="5">
    <w:abstractNumId w:val="4" />
  </w:num>
</w:numbering>

In this case, the final two numbering definition instances both inherit from the abstract numbering definition with a @abstractNumId of 4. ]

The possible values for this attribute are defined by the ST_DecimalNumber simple type (§2.18.16).

The following XML Schema fragment defines the contents of this element:

<complexType name="CT_AbstractNum">
	<sequence>
	<element name="nsid" type="CT_LongHexNumber" minOccurs="0"/>
	<element name="multiLevelType" type="CT_MultiLevelType" minOccurs="0"/>
	<element name="tmpl" type="CT_LongHexNumber" minOccurs="0"/>
	<element name="name" type="CT_String" minOccurs="0"/>
	<element name="styleLink" type="CT_String" minOccurs="0"/>
	<element name="numStyleLink" type="CT_String" minOccurs="0"/>
	<element name="lvl" type="CT_Lvl" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="9"/>
	</sequence>
	<attribute name="abstractNumId" type="ST_DecimalNumber" use="required"/>
</complexType>