w:numStyleLink (Numbering Style Link)

Links an abstract numbering definition to a named list style, allowing the list to be applied via style rather than direct numPr references.

Parent elements

w:abstractNum

Description

w:numStyleLink declares that an w:abstractNum entry is the underlying numbering definition for a named list style. The style whose w:styleId matches the value of w:numStyleLink controls which formatting is applied when the list is used via that style.

It is defined in ECMA-376 Part 1 §17.9.21.

The companion element w:styleLink (also in w:abstractNum) performs the inverse mapping: it declares that the abstract numbering definition exposes itself as a list style.

Attributes

Attribute	Type	Possible Values	Description
`w:val`	`xsd:string`	A style ID matching a `w:style w:styleId` in `styles.xml`	Identifies the list style that drives this abstract numbering definition.

Examples

<!-- This abstract numbering definition is driven by the "ListNumber" style -->
<w:abstractNum w:abstractNumId="3">
  <w:numStyleLink w:val="ListNumber"/>
</w:abstractNum>

using DocumentFormat.OpenXml.Wordprocessing;

var abstractNum = new AbstractNum(
    new NumberingStyleLink { Val = "ListNumber" }
)
{ AbstractNumberId = 3 };

Notes

When w:numStyleLink is present, the w:abstractNum entry usually has no w:lvl children of its own — the formatting comes entirely from the referenced style.
This pattern is used by Word’s built-in “List Number” and “List Bullet” styles.
The style referenced by w:val should have w:type w:val="numbering".