Hi, Paul -

One way to do this would be to put a hidden LISTNUM field at the top
of the template that will enable you to start the chapter number for
each file by hand.

Assuming that each file starts with a chapter number, it would go like
this:

* On your template, click the ShowAll paragraph mark on the Standard
toolbar.

* At the top of the template, put in the Heading 1 style for chapter
1, followed by xxx.

* Repeat, so the top of the template now looks like:

                  Chapter 1.  xxx
                  Chapter 2.  xxx

* Delete the xxx from Chapter 1.

* Replace the xxx with a LISTNUM field - Ctrl-Alt-L.

* Toggle the field codes twice - Alt-F9, Alt-F9.

* Inside the LISTNUM field, add the level and start switches as shown,
being careful that there's no space after either slash:

                   Chapter 1.  { LISTNUM \L 1 \S 0 }

* Add a few spaces between the end of the LISTNUM field and the
paragraph mark.

* Select the whole paragraph and apply hidden font.

* Now click the ShowAll paragraph mark again so everything is hidden.
The first line disappears, and you should see only:

                    Chapter 1.  xxx

CAREFUL!!!  To change the chapter title for each new file, delete the
xxxs from the paragraph mark backwards toward the first x.  If you
start with the first x you will be in the hidden paragraph above.  To
avoid any mistakes, use ShowAll while setting the start number for the
LISTNUM field.

* Each time you create a new file, using ShowAll you simply change the
number in the \S switch to a number one below the one you want to
start at.

Simple. Crude. But always works. - Bruce