Paragraph Levels

Overview

Paragraphs within a specification section have a parent/child relationship based on their levels.

It is important and useful for the user to be able to identify the level of a paragraph, and if necessary, edit the level of a paragraph.

Identifying the level of a Paragraph

The next image displays the level status bar above the section document.

In this image, Part 1 General is highlighted because the cursor is hovering over it. The level status bar indicates that this paragraph, sequence number 0002, is a level 1 paragraph. Parentage dictates that a level 2 paragraph cannot be activated unless its corresponding level 1 paragraph has been activated.

In other words the level 2 paragraph, sequence number 0003 shown in the image below, could not be activated without the user first activating the level 1 paragraph, in this case, sequence number 0002.

Consequently, the same is true for the level 3 paragraph, sequence number 0004 pictured here:

Let’s look at what would happen if the level 2 paragraph, sequence number 0003, was not active, and the user attempted to activate the level 3 paragraph, sequence number 0004.

Notice that the paragraph is not active, but that there is now a blue circle next to the sequence number. This indicates that a user has attempted to activate the paragraph. From here, both paragraphs will be activated if the user clicks the sequence number 0003.

Editing the Level of a Paragraph

The user can edit the level of a paragraph by right-clicking on the paragraph text. Remember that all paragraphs have a 4 digit sequence number. Also remember that the hierarchy of the paragraph levels can not be broken.

In the following graphic, sequence number 0007 is a level 3:

To increase the level of the highlighted paragraph (sequence number 0007), right-click on the paragraph text and select “Increase Indent” as shown below. Alternatively, you can use CTRL + ] to increase the indent.

The paragraph sequence number 0007 becomes the "#1" to the "B" of paragraph sequence 0006.

Many options appear on the right-click menu from the paragraph text. To revert this paragraph to its original state, use the undo (Ctrl+Z) tool, the Decrease Indent option from the right-click menu, or      CTRL + [ with the paragraph selected (opposite bracket than the increase indent shortcut).

Editing the Level of a Paragraph Branch

The user can edit the level of an entire branch of paragraphs at once by right-clicking on the paragraph text. Remember that all paragraphs have a 4 digit sequence number. Also remember that the hierarchy of the paragraph levels can not be broken.

In the following example, Sequence Number 0210 is a Level 4 paragraph, with hierarchy related Level 5 and 6's paragraphs under it (0211, 0212, 0214). 

To increase the level of an entire branch of paragraphs, start with the highest level paragraph to be indented. The highlighted paragraph (sequence number 0210), right-click on the paragraph text and select “Increase Branch Indent” as shown below.



As shown below, Sequence Number 0210 indent has been increased, making it a level 5 paragraph, but also all the hierarchy related paragraphs under Sequence Number 0210 increased their indents as well. Sequence Number 0211 and 0214 became level 6, Sequence Number 0212 became level 7, and so on.

This is shown in the formatting changes of the paragraphs as 0210 became an "a." to the "3." of sequence number 209. Another example shows 0211 became a "1)" to the "a." of 0210. 

All of these paragraphs are now related to the Level 3 Sequence Number 209 in the Level Hierarchy. 

Many options appear on the right-click menu from the paragraph text. To revert these paragraphs to their original states, use the undo (Ctrl+Z) tool or the Decrease Branch Indent option from the right-click menu of Sequence Number 0210. Using Decrease Branch Indent on a different paragraph will not reset the group to the original state.

Watch the video below to see the steps of identifying and editing paragraph levels.