Works for me, Jonathon. Rather surprisingly, perhaps. Try it :)

Hi,
Hmmm.  This seems to work only when I'm at heading level one - otherwise
returns blank!  Here's how I implemented your suggestion: The MsgBox line is
split below, but is all one line in my macro.

Sub genBookmarkList()
MsgBox
ActiveDocument.Bookmarks("\HeadingLevel").Range.Paragraphs(1).Range.ListFormat.ListString
Exit Sub

When I run this macro with the cursor in the text or heading of my section
14, it returns "14.", but when I put the cursor in the text or heading of
section 14.2, I get nothing.  I was hoping to get "14.1" or "14.1.".  

Suggestions?

Thanks for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Charlie

Thanks!
For some reason I get a syntax error when I try your code, on the
Paragraphs(1) part of line 4 below. ("Sub or function not defined")' Here's
what I tried:

Sub test()
Dim sectionNumStr As String
ActiveDocument.Bookmarks("\HeadingLevel").Range.Select
sectionNumStr = Paragraphs(1).Range.ListFormat.ListString
MsgBox sectionNumStr
End Sub

Not sure what I did wrong...

Anyway, I think this would work only at heading level 1, based on behavior
of the following sub based on Jonathan's posting (the msgbox line is split
below but is really all one line).  This gives the heading level correctly
only when at heading level 1, with the cursor in the heading or the body
text, otherwise returns blank:

Sub genBookmarkList()
MsgBox
ActiveDocument.Bookmarks("\HeadingLevel").Range.Paragraphs(1).Range.ListFormat.ListString
End Sub

Perhaps you could try your approach at levels 2 or higher? Thanks a million,
this stuff is sure confusing...