Numbering

Location on ribbon: Tab DVD Addin → Group Text and Number

Command ID: btnNumbering

What it does

The command opens the Auto numbering tab of the Text and Number tool window: it fills the selected range with a series built from a start value and a step of your choosing. The start value can be numeric (1, 2, 3…) or a text prefix (A → A1, A2, A3…).

Unlike dragging Excel's fill handle, this filler skips hidden rows and columns and counts a merged cell once, which is exactly what bills of quantities, document registers and rebar schedules need — their No. column runs through multi-row merged cells and past rows hidden by a filter.

How to use

1. Select the range to number (usually the No. column).
2. Click DVD Addin → Text and Number → Numbering. The tool window opens on the Auto numbering tab.
3. Enter the Start value — a number such as 1, or a text prefix such as A or HM.
4. Enter the Step — default 1; decimals (0.5) and negative values are accepted.
5. Click Apply. The series is written into the selection left→right, top→bottom.
6. The window is modeless, so you can select another range and click Apply again without reopening the command. Click Close when finished.

Example

A foundation BoQ has a No. column where "Foundation concrete" spans 3 merged rows, "Rebar" spans 2, and two suspended items are hidden by a filter.

Select A6:A20, enter Start value = 1, Step = 1, and click Apply.

Before	After
A6:A8 (merged) empty	1
A9:A10 (merged) empty	2
A11 empty	3
A12 (hidden row) empty	skipped, left empty
A13 empty	4

With Start value = HM and Step = 1, the result is HM1, HM2, HM3…

Notes

• You must select a range first; with no selection the add-in prompts "Please select a data range".
• Hidden rows and columns (including those hidden by AutoFilter) are skipped and each merged cell takes a single number — the key difference from the fill handle.
• The step must be numeric; text produces the error "Step must be a number (e.g. 1, 2, 0.5)". Use a dot as the decimal separator (0.5).
• With a text prefix the trailing number is prefix + (index × step), so A with step 2 yields A2, A4, A6….
• The command overwrites existing cell content and cannot be undone with Ctrl+Z — save the file before running it on a large table.

Related

• Number list — fill a plain 1, 2, 3 series with no parameters to set.
• Upper letters — fill the same selection with A, B, C instead.
• Multilevel 1.1.1 — hierarchical numbering that follows item levels.
• Sheet Numbering — prefix sheet names with sequence numbers.