ClaimMaster includes patent application drafting tools that let you quickly renumber figures and associated parts in the Specification. All associated part #s for the figures in the specified range can be changed (including applying the additional parts increment), as long as they begin with the same number as the figure (e.g., Figure 2 and associated parts 2XX). This operation may be helpful if you need to change the numbering scheme for a specific figure – for example, you could change the description of Figure 2 into Figure 3 to make space for an additional figure in the Specification (to be inserted instead of the old Figure 2). You also use this feature to increase/decrease part numbers in the Specification by a fixed step.
To change figure and associated part numbers in the Specification, perform the following steps:
- Open the Figure Renumbering Tool
From the ClaimMaster tab, click on the Patent Drafting Tools menu, then click on Change Figure and Part Numbers in the Specification :
- Set Figures Range and Renumbering Increment
In the window that comes up, specify the renumbering range start and end. All associated part #s for the figures in the specified range will be changed (including applying the additional parts increment), as long as they begin with the same number as the figure (e.g., Figure 2 and associated parts 2XX).
If the end range is set to “N/A”, then only the first figure in the range will be renumbered. However, if checkbox “also renumber subsequent figures” (item 3) is checked, then any subsequent figures will also be renumbered using the same scheme.
The increment field specifies the number to be used for shifting both Figure and associated part #s in the Specification. It can be either positive (to increase their value), negative (to decrease figure and part #s), or 0 to skip figure/part name renumbering.
- Set Part Renumbering Increment (Optional)
Part renumbering increment field specifies the additional increment (either positive, negative, or 0) to be added to the selected parts in preview table. A negative value will reduce part #s, while a positive increment will increase them. Notably, part increments can be applied to the selected rows without figure renumbering (i.e., when Figure renumbering increment is set to 0). It is a useful operation if you just want to shift some part numbers in the specification by a fixed step to make room for additional parts in the Figure and description.
- Preview Renumbering Changes
Once you specify the renumbering range and increments, the tool will show the preview of the proposed renumbering changes. The table will list the old/new figure numbers and also the old/new part numbers for each affected part name. For example, in the screenshot below, Figure 1 will be changed to Figure 6 because an increment of 5 is specified for the Figures/parts. Individual part numbers associated with Figure 1 will be incremented by 510 (500 due to the change in Figure 1 to Figure 6 and also by additional part increment 10.
- Apply Selected Changes to the Document
Once you are satisfied with the preview of renumbering changes, click on Apply selected changes to the document to renumber figures and part numbers in the document. Only the selected rows in the preview table will be used for renumbering when “Apply selected changes to the document” button is clicked.
For more information on this feature, check out the Online Manual.