Number list

Location on ribbon: Tab DVD Addin → Group Text and Number → arrow on Numbering → section Numbered list

Command ID: btnNumberingList

What it does

Prefixes the selected cells with 1., 2., 3., … A single counter runs across the whole selection in row-major order, so the list is numbered continuously from the first cell to the last.

This is the workhorse for bills of quantities, material schedules, task lists and clause lists in site records. The command strips any earlier list prefix (1., I., A., a.) before writing, so you can re-run it after inserting or deleting rows without stacking numbers.

How to use

1. Select the cells you want numbered.
2. Go to tab DVD Addin → group Text and Number → arrow on Numbering → Numbered list section → click Number list.
3. The Confirm data change box tells you how many cells will be overwritten; keep Back up sheet ticked and click Continue.
4. The Excel status bar reports something like "Numbered N lines across M cells".

How each cell is handled:

• Text cell: every line inside the cell (Alt+Enter breaks) gets its own number.
• Empty cell: only the prefix is written, e.g. 5. .
• Formula cell: wrapped as =""&"5. "&(original formula) so the number shows while the formula keeps recalculating.
• Numeric, date and TRUE/FALSE cells are skipped so a date is never flattened to its serial number.

Video tutorial

Narrated in Vietnamese, with Vietnamese subtitles. Danh sách số và chữ · 4 min 50 s · 10 cases · Download the video · Practice workbook for the video

Commands in this video: Number list · Lower letters list · Remove list numbering · Roman list · Upper letters list

Chapters (14)

1. Giới thiệu
2. Mở lệnh
3. 1 · Ô nhiều dòng
4. 2 · Đánh số lại
5. 3 · Hai cấp: La Mã và số
6. 4 · Ô trống – chữ thường
7. 5 · Ô công thức
8. 6 · Ô gộp và dòng ẩn
9. 7 · Lỡ chọn cả bảng
10. 8 · Bỏ đánh số danh sách
11. 9 · Ghi đè và hoàn tác
12. 10 · Khi không có gì để làm
13. Mẹo
14. Kết thúc

Illustrated walkthrough

Practice

Download this command's sample workbook — the data matches the pictures below (sheet Schedule), so you can follow each step right away.

Step 1. Select the cells to number (1). A multi-line cell (Alt+Enter) gets one number per line.

Step 2. On the ribbon, open the DVD Addin tab → Text and Number group → open Numbering → choose Number list.

Step 3. The Confirm data change box tells you how many cells will be overwritten. Keep Back up sheet ticked (1) so that Ctrl+Z right after the command restores the sheet, then click Continue (2).

Step 4. Every line gets a 1., 2., 3.… prefix from one counter running through the whole selection — the two-line cell takes two numbers (1). The status bar reports the lines and cells numbered (2).

Example

The activity column of a construction programme:

Before	After
Excavate foundation grid A-D	1. Excavate foundation grid A-D
Pour blinding concrete	2. Pour blinding concrete
Fix pile cap reinforcement	3. Fix pile cap reinforcement
Pour pile cap concrete	4. Pour pile cap concrete

Notes

• Value cells are forced to Text format (@) before writing so "1." is not read as a date.
• Hidden rows and columns are skipped; a merged area counts once and the number lands in its top-left cell.
• The counter only advances after a successful write, so a locked cell never leaves a gap in the sequence.
• A multi-line cell consumes several consecutive numbers — that is intended behaviour, not a bug.
• Use Remove list numbering in the same menu to remove the numbering; or press Ctrl+Z right after the command to put the whole range back.

Related

• Roman list — the I., II., III. level that usually sits above numbers.
• Lower letters list — the a., b., c. level below.
• Multilevel 1.1.1 — hierarchical numbering driven by indent level.
• Numbering — fills a serial-number column instead of prefixing text.