OmniDocHow to set the graduation thesis chart and formula numbers
Clarify the numbering rules for figures, tables, and formulas in the graduation thesis, use captions to automatically generate numbers, and use cross-references to ensure that the figure numbers mentioned in the text are updated accordingly and will no longer be misplaced after changes.
Key points of this article
- Use the caption function to generate numbers for figures and tables. Do not manually enter numbers such as Figure 1-1 and Table 2-3, otherwise the entire text will be reworked after adding or deleting figures.
- When numbering by chapter, you must first use the title style for the chapter title so that the current chapter number can be read in the caption.
- The formula number is placed on the right side of the same line as the formula, aligned with tab stops, and the number is also generated with a caption.
- References such as "as shown in Figure 2-3" in the text should be inserted using cross-references. After the number is updated, the references will change synchronously.
- After the full text is finalized, update the fields and check item by item to confirm that the numbers are continuous, the references are consistent, and the formulas are retained after exporting.
When writing a graduation thesis, the numbers of figures and tables are often typed one by one by hand: Figure 1-1, Table 2-3, Formula (2-1). If you go back and add a picture when writing the third chapter, all the subsequent numbers will have to be changed, and the "shown in Figure 2-3" in the text will also be misplaced, making it very time-consuming to check. This type of problem is not the same as overall typesetting. The key is to let the software automatically generate numbers and let the references in the text follow the numbers.
This article is written for students who are writing their graduation thesis using Word or an online editor and need to number figures, tables, and formulas according to the school format. After reading, you will know how to determine the numbering rule, how to use captions and cross-references to automatically generate numbers, and what to check after finishing.
How to set the numbers of figures, tables and formulas? One sentence conclusion
Figures and tables are automatically numbered using the caption function. Formulas are divided into separate paragraphs and caption numbers are placed on the right side. References to charts in the text are uniformly inserted using cross-references and do not need to be numbered manually.
| your situation | Recommended practices | reason |
|---|---|---|
| The school requires chapter numbering, as shown in Figure 1-1 | Chapter numbers are added to the title, and serial numbers are re-counted by chapter. | Adding or deleting a chart in a chapter will only affect the chapter number |
| The full text is numbered consecutively, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 | The captions are counted directly according to the full text, without adding chapter numbers. | Consistent with the school template, the rules are simple |
| The formula needs to be numbered on the right side | The formula and the number are on the same line, and the number is generated with the "formula" caption. | Align numbers with formulas for easy reference in the text |
| The text mentions a certain picture or formula | Insert numbers with cross-references, referencing only labels and numbers | After the number changes, update the domain to synchronize it. |
| There are many formulas and need to be edited online | Edit in UniDoc web editor (app.unidoc.top) and export back to Word | Supports Word-compatible editing and formulas, making it easy to return to Word to continue typesetting |
Before you start: Confirm these points first
1. Confirm the school’s numbering scheme. Some schools require chapter numbers (Figure 2-1), and some require the entire text to be continuous (Figure 1, Figure 2). The rules determine how to write the numbers in the title. Before starting, check the school template or format requirements.
2. Confirm the position of the figure title and table title. A common requirement is that the picture titles should be placed below the pictures and the table titles should be placed above the tables, but the specific requirements are subject to school regulations. The position of the caption determines where the cursor should be placed when you insert the number.
3. Check whether the chapter title uses the title style. Read chapter numbers by chapter number depending on the title's outline level. If the chapter title is just ordinary text in bold, the chapter number cannot be obtained in the caption, and the numbering will be wrong.
4. Keep a copy of the original manuscript. The numbering update takes effect in batches. Once something is set incorrectly, the impact will spread to the entire text. Make a backup copy before making changes so you can roll back if something goes wrong.
5. Confirm how the formula is written. If the formula is written using the formula function that comes with Word, the number and formula can be placed directly in the same paragraph; if LaTeX source code is used, make sure the formula and number are retained when exporting. This will affect subsequent verification methods.
Steps to set numbers for charts and equations in Word
- Set the chapter title first. Set the title of each chapter to title style and associate the chapter number with the title (multi-level list). In this way, the current chapter number can be read in the title.
- Add a caption to the picture. Place the cursor below the figure, use the caption function, and select the label as figure in the caption settings. After the number is automatically generated, add the figure name after the title, for example, "Figure 2-1 Overall system architecture."
- Add a title to the table. In the same way, select the label as table in the caption settings. The caption is usually placed above the table. The title position of the form must be consistent with the school's requirements.
- Set a number for the formula. Divide the formula into a separate paragraph, set the center-aligned formula position and right tab stop in the paragraph, insert a caption labeled Equation on the right, and display it in a style like (2-1).
- Insert cross-references into the text. Where you need to mention charts or formulas, use the cross-reference function, select label and number for the reference type, and the text will appear as "Figure 2-1" or "Formula (2-1)" after insertion. Do not type by hand.
- Process documents with many formulas in the online editor (optional). If you need to edit on the web page, you can open or create a new document in the UniDoc web page editor (app.unidoc.top), insert formulas and retain Word-compatible editing effects, and export it to a Word file to continue typesetting.
- Field will be updated after the full text is finalized. Select Full Text, Update Fields, and have all captions and cross-references recalculated. Then check item by item to make sure there are no remaining hand-printed numbers.
Check each item after completion
| Check items | How to see | What to do if there is a problem |
|---|---|---|
| number continuity | Check whether the chart numbers are consecutive from the first chapter to the last chapter, and re-count by chapter. | The number still skips after updating the domain. Check whether the title has been manually changed. Delete the hand-typed number and reinsert the title. |
| In-text citation | Randomly check whether "shown in Figure X-X" is consistent with the corresponding figure number | In case of inconsistency, select the reference and re-insert the cross-reference. Do not change the text directly. |
| Does the chapter number follow the title? | After changing the level of a chapter title, whether the chapter number and drawing number change accordingly. | No change indicates that the title style is not used. Go back to the first step and reset it. |
| Formula number alignment | Whether the number is on the right, on the same line as the formula | Adjust the position with tabs, avoid being compacted with spaces, and consider splitting when the formula is too long. |
| Layout after export | Open the exported file and check that the numbers and formulas are intact | In the event of an exception, the original manuscript shall prevail and be revised one by one. |
| School format | Compare the drawing number, table number and style number of the school template. | Uniformly modify the text of the caption label in case of inconsistency, and then update the field |
# "Core comparison: manual numbering, caption numbering and online editing
| Method | Advantages | Shortcoming |
|---|---|---|
| Enter the number manually | Get started quickly, short documents with a few pictures are acceptable. | Adding or deleting a picture requires manual correction of the full text, which is easy to be omitted. |
| Inscription plus cross-reference | The field can be synchronized after adding or deleting charts, which is suitable for long papers | It will take some time to set up for the first time, and the title style should be straightened out first. |
| Export after online editing | When there are many formulas, it is easy to edit. After export, you can go back to Word to continue typesetting. | After export, you still need to check whether the number and formula are complete. |
For a paper with about 30 pages and more charts, captions and cross-references are usually easier than manual numbering, because later changes only need to update the field.
# frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. What does figure 1-1 in the graduation thesis mean? must it be numbered according to the chapter?
Figure 1-1 shows the first picture of the first chapter. Whether the serial number according to the chapter is determined by the school, if the school does not require it, it can be numbered continuously according to the full text, but it should be consistent with the school template.
2. Why does the formula number always go to the next line?
When the formula and the number are placed in the same paragraph, if the formula is too wide or the paragraph is set to wrap, the number is squeezed to the next line. You can use a tab stop to fix the number on the right, check that the formula is too long, and split it into two lines if necessary.
3. Why should the caption of the table be placed at the top of the table?
This is a common requirement of many school templates and academic writing. In most cases, the list is at the top and the picture is at the bottom. Specific to the school format requirements shall prevail, do not apply directly according to the impression.
4. After changing the number of a picture, the citation in the text does not change. What should I do?
This usually means that the citations in the text are typed by hand. Update the field of the full text first, and if the reference remains the same, delete the hand-typed number and reinsert it with cross-reference instead.
# Summary
The key to the numbering of charts and formulas is to automatically generate the numbering of the captions, so that the text points to the numbering with cross-references, and the full text is synchronized after a change. Confirm the numbering plan of the school before you start, and set the chapter title so that the number can be generated correctly according to the chapter. After the final version, the update domain is checked item by item, and rework can be avoided.
