Add or remove line numbers

Word can automatically count the lines in a document and display the appropriate number beside each line of text. This is useful when you need to refer to specific lines in a document, such as a script or a legal contract.

By default, Word numbers every line in a document (except those in tables, footnotes, endnotes, text boxes, and headers and footers). However, you can choose which line numbers to display. For example, you can display line numbers in all or part of the document. Or you can display line numbers at intervals, such as every tenth line (10, 20, 30, and so on).

What do you want to do?

Add line numbers

You can add line numbers to all or part of a document. To view line numbers, you must be in Print Layout view (click the View tab to check).

A table is counted as one line.

A figure is counted as one line.

A text box is counted as one line if it is positioned inline with the text on the page. If text on the page wraps around the text box, the lines of text on the page are counted. Lines of text inside a text box are not counted.

Add line numbers to an entire document

On the Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click Line Numbers.

Note: If your document is divided into sections and you want to add line numbers to the entire document, you first need to select the document. Click Select in the Editing group on the Home tab, and then click Select All. Or press CTRL+A.

Do one of the following:

To number consecutively throughout the document, click Continuous.

To start with number 1 on each page, click Restart Each Page.

To start with number 1 after each section break, click Restart Each Section.

For more advanced line numbering options, such as numbering at different intervals, click Line Numbering Options, and then click Line Numbers on the Layout tab.

Add line numbers to a section or to multiple sections

Click in a section or select multiple sections.

On the Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click Line Numbers.

Click Line Numbering Options, and then click the Layout tab.

In the Apply to list, click Selected sections.

Click Line Numbers.

Select the Add line numbering check box, and then select the options that you want.

Remove line numbers

You can remove line numbers from the entire document, from a section, or from a paragraph.

Click in the document, or click in the section or paragraph from which you want to remove line numbers. If you want to remove line numbers from multiple sections, select the sections.

On the Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click Line Numbers.

Do one of the following:

To remove line numbers from the entire document or section, click None.

To remove line numbers from a single paragraph, click Suppress for Current Paragraph.

Support for Office 2010 ended on October 13, 2020

Upgrade to Microsoft 365 to work anywhere from any device and continue to receive support.

How to get line numbers in Notepad on Windows 10

Dec 2, 2020
Comment

Text editors are apps that can be simple, or they can be complex. In fact, some text editors add so many features that they cease to be text editors and transcend to a higher app level.

At its core, a text editor will accept text and allow you to save a file in various formats e.g. BAT, AHK, PS1, HTML, CSS, SRT, etc. There are all sorts of features that you can add on top of this to make entering, and editing text easier such as syntax highlighting, line numbers, auto-close tags, etc.

Notepad is the stock text editor on Windows 10 and its best feature is that it is a light, no-nonsense app that offers users a distraction free interface. The app opens quickly, can handle loads of text, and can save a file in any format.

Line numbers in Notepad on Windows 10

Line numbers are a feature you’ll find in quite a few text editors and all code editors. They’re helpful and not just when you’re writing code. Sadly, Notepad doesn’t show line numbers along the side like a code editor or an advanced text editor normally would.

To view line numbers in Notepad, follow these steps.

1. Open a Notepad file.
2. Go to View and select Status Bar.
3. Enter text and move the cursor to the line you want to find the number for.
4. Look at the bottom in the status bar and you will see the line number.

Other text editors

The Notepad line numbers aren’t the greatest since you have to click a line to find the number for it. Having line numbers appear along the side is really what most users prefer and Notepad doesn’t have that.

There are other text editors though that you can use. We’re going to recommend two excellent apps. We will be ignoring apps like Notepad++ which, while excellent, is far too advanced to be called a simple text editor.

1. Metapad

Metapad is free, and has a terminal-like interface. It is as simple as a text editor can get with line numbers along the side. Because it so much like a terminal, you’re not going to be distracted by ugly icons or a poor UI design that’s stuck in the Windows 98 days.

You can customize the background color of the app which means instead of a bright, blinding white background, you can get something that’s much easier on the eyes.

2. Brackets

Brackets sits snuggly on the fine line that differentiates simple text editors from advanced ones. The UI is great but you can change it so that you get nothing more than a simple, distraction-free window to work in. It has line numbers, and tons of other great features like a debugger, extension support, line selection, and a lot more.

It isn’t as light as Notepad or Metapad but it’s not heavy. During installation, it asks to be added to the PATH variable making it all the easier to use.

Conclusion

We’ve neglected quite a few popular text editors like Micro, SciTE, and Programmer’s Notepad. These apps aren’t bad but their UI is either cluttered or still following old design, or they tend to run heavy on a system. You’re free to check them out though and use whatever works for you.

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Enable the display of line numbers in Visual Studio

Why doesn’t Visual Studio have any way of showing line numbers in a source file? Is there any way to enable it, or a plugin for it? I know that the number of lines of code in a program doesn’t matter, but sometimes it is nice to know how long a program is or the number of a particular line for reference.

Though I tried, I can’t seem to find a way to enable line numbering and I find that surprising.

This is Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate. (If you have read my older questions, I’ve been using 2008 Express until now.)

15 Answers 15

Visual Studio has line numbering:

Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> All Languages -> check the «Line numbers» checkbox.

As of Visual Studio 2015, you can find the option under:

Tools-> Options -> Text Editor -> All Languages-> General -> Line Numbers

Or simply go to tools -> options and type on the search bar: «Numbers».

Tools -> Options -> Show All Settings -> Text Editor -> All Languages -> Line Numbers

In Visual Studio 2013 & 2015 :

Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> All Languages -> check Line Numbers

It’s not enabled by default but you can enable it by going to:

1. Click Tools
2. Options
3. Text Editor (expand)
4. All Languages
5. Line Numbers (Checkbox)
6. Click Ok

Tools > Settings > Expert Settings

Tools > Options > Show all settings > Text editor > C# > General > Check Line Numbers (checkbox)

Visual studio 2015 enterprice

Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> All Languages -> check Line Numbers

Options -> Text Editor -> All Languages -> Line Number checkbox

Are you talking about seeing the line numbers or knowing the total number of lines in a project? Here is the 1st one

Line numbers are not on by default. To turn on line numbers just go to Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> All Languages -> General -> Display and check Line numbers:

For me, line numbers wouldn’t appear in the editor until I added the option under both the «all languages» pane, and the language I was working under (C# etc). screen capture showing editor options

Type ‘line numbers’ into the Quick Launch textbox (top right VS 2015), and it’ll take you right where you need to be (tick Line Numbers checkbox).

For MS Visual Studio 2015 type «Text» in Quick Launch (Ctrl+Q) of top right corner. 1) quicklaunch

2) In the list select Text Editor->All Languages->General select_allLanguages

3) Now check on «Line Numbers» and click OK to get the line numbers.

Finally we get the line number in text editor.

In Visual Studio 2010 Express, there is an option called «Show all Settings«. Located at «Tools > Options«, window.

If this option is not checked, the line number option will not be available. Make sure this option is checked like shown below. This will make lot of additional settings visible in the tree view to the left.

Now this will make the option «Tools > Options > Text Editor > C# > General > Line Editor» available. Check the «Line Number» option to make line numbers visible on Visual Studio 2010 Express.

Add or remove line numbers

Word can automatically count the lines in a document and display the appropriate number beside each line of text. This is useful when you need to refer to specific lines in a document, such as a script or a legal contract.

By default, Word numbers every line in a document (except those in tables, footnotes, endnotes, text boxes, and headers and footers). However, you can choose which line numbers to display. For example, you can display line numbers in all or part of the document. Or you can display line numbers at intervals, such as every tenth line (10, 20, 30, and so on).

What do you want to do?

Add line numbers

You can add line numbers to all or part of a document. To view line numbers, you must be in Print Layout view (click the View tab to check).

A table is counted as one line.

A figure is counted as one line.

A text box is counted as one line if it is positioned inline with the text on the page. If text on the page wraps around the text box, the lines of text on the page are counted. Lines of text inside a text box are not counted.

Add line numbers to an entire document

On the Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click Line Numbers.

Note: If your document is divided into sections and you want to add line numbers to the entire document, you first need to select the document. Click Select in the Editing group on the Home tab, and then click Select All. Or press CTRL+A.

Do one of the following:

To number consecutively throughout the document, click Continuous.

To start with number 1 on each page, click Restart Each Page.

To start with number 1 after each section break, click Restart Each Section.

For more advanced line numbering options, such as numbering at different intervals, click Line Numbering Options, and then click Line Numbers on the Layout tab.

Add line numbers to a section or to multiple sections

Click in a section or select multiple sections.

On the Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click Line Numbers.

Click Line Numbering Options, and then click the Layout tab.

In the Apply to list, click Selected sections.

Click Line Numbers.

Select the Add line numbering check box, and then select the options that you want.

Remove line numbers

You can remove line numbers from the entire document, from a section, or from a paragraph.

Click in the document, or click in the section or paragraph from which you want to remove line numbers. If you want to remove line numbers from multiple sections, select the sections.

On the Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click Line Numbers.

Do one of the following:

To remove line numbers from the entire document or section, click None.

To remove line numbers from a single paragraph, click Suppress for Current Paragraph.

Support for Office 2010 ended on October 13, 2020

Upgrade to Microsoft 365 to work anywhere from any device and continue to receive support.