Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 7, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Ruchika is trying to add a period to the caption label used for tables. She wants her table caption to look like this: "Table 1.1. Example Table". She can configure the caption tool to use a period between the chapter number and the item number (1.1), but she can't find a way to put the period after the digits. Ruchika wonders if there is an automatic way to add the last period.
There is no way to add that second period that we can find. That means that if you must have the period, the only way to get it is to add it manually or (if you have enough captions to justify doing so) creating a macro to add the period.
You may want to look at the requirement to have the second period. Is it really necessary? If the requirement is specified by a professional organization or a publisher, you may want to talk with your contacts to see if it is possible to get the requirement relaxed so you can use the caption tool without the need for modification.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8473) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Automatic Periods after a Caption.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!
When using the captioning capabilities of Word, you aren't limited to the three default caption labels provided in the ...
Discover MoreUsing Word's captioning feature can be a great boon for automatically numbering certain elements in your documents. It ...
Discover MoreWord can be configured so that it automatically adds captions to some of your design elements (tables, figures, etc.). ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments