# Roman Numbered Chapters **URL:** \ **Category:** Scrivener\ **Tags:** support, compile, placeholders\ **Created:** [September 7, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220 "2025-09-07T17:03:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/1 "2025-09-07T17:03:04Z")
Hello! Quick question: is it possible to number chapters like the examples below? > Say the first chapter’s POV character is named _Anna_. When she has a new POV chapter, it’ll be numbered _Anna II_. Am I missing something or is this completely impossible? ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/vincent_vincent/32/19680_2.png) [@Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Vincent_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/2 "2025-09-07T17:12:07Z")
Hi. If you don’t use roman anywhere else, simply add \<$R\> (where you want it to appear in the title) in the binder/document name. ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/3 "2025-09-07T17:12:58Z")
I’d like to do this in compile, though. ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/vincent_vincent/32/19680_2.png) [@Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Vincent_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/4 "2025-09-07T17:13:56Z")
Well, \<$R\> will be replaced by I, II, III at compile. But else, how is the compile supposed to know where to insert it ? You’d have to do major hoops jumping to tell it to insert it when there is “Anna”, but nothing else. If you have multiple characters for which you want that, you’ll have to rather use strings. There is a complete list (and explanations) of all placeholders under the `help` menu. ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/5 "2025-09-07T17:15:56Z")
After the chapter name? The idea is to write something similar to ASOIAF (limited third person POV), but being more sensible than GRRM and giving proper chapter numbering (so the reader goes: _OK, Character A has six chapters, and B has eight_). ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/vincent_vincent/32/19680_2.png) [@Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Vincent_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/6 "2025-09-07T17:17:42Z")
By where I didn’t mean “where in the title”, but rather if/when/ what would be the trigger. Major mess Either you add the strings in the binder, or you design specific section types/layouts for each character. The later would work, IF (and only if) you want the insertion at the beginning or end of the title. Not midway. So for example, if you want a title to be : _Anna III : the return_ better insert the \<$R:anna\> in the binder. ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/7 "2025-09-07T17:23:13Z")
> [@Vincent\_Vincent](#): > > So for example, if you want a title to be : _Anna III : the return_ better insert the \<$R:anna\> in the binder. Could this be done through compile? ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/vincent_vincent/32/19680_2.png) [@Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Vincent_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/8 "2025-09-07T17:24:34Z")
Well, that’s what I mean by “Where?” The compiler can’t guess. And if you use auto-replace, all your "Anna"s will end up numbered. Even in the text itself. ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/9 "2025-09-07T17:25:38Z")
I use a Folder (Chapter) + File (Scene) structure. Every folder named _Anna_ would have numbers. Same for every character. ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/vincent_vincent/32/19680_2.png) [@Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Vincent_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/10 "2025-09-07T17:26:45Z")
I would then title my chapters Anna \<$R:anna\> : The return ⮘ In the binder. If there is another easy way, I don’t see it at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/11 "2025-09-07T17:28:45Z")
> [@Vincent\_Vincent](#): > > Anna \<$R:anna\> : The return ⮘ In the binder. So using the \<$R: Character name\> is the solution? I name the folders after the character I’m writing about (the POV), BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/vincent_vincent/32/19680_2.png) [@Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Vincent_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/12 "2025-09-07T17:30:13Z")
What comes after the “:” in \<$R:charactername\> allows you to have multiple strings/streams. So you don’t end up with : Anna I Anna II Paul III Anna IV But rather : Anna I Anna II Paul I Anna III ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/13 "2025-09-07T17:31:42Z")
I think I get it! So to have the titles I want, I’d have to put \<$R: CharacterName\> in the title prefix to compile? Or am I missing the clue? ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/vincent_vincent/32/19680_2.png) [@Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Vincent_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/14 "2025-09-07T17:33:10Z")
Yes. If you want it at the beginning of the title. Suffix ⮚ At the end. And you have to create and assign section types and layouts, different for each of your characters, so that they be patched the right string of R ⮚⮚ And there is no space in the placeholder. You typed it wrong. Keep them short. \<$R:anna\> is fine. No need to type the full name, the compiler has no idea (and doesn’t care the least bit) what it refers to. You just need them to be different from one another. What you type after the “:” is just for you to know what is what. ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/15 "2025-09-07T17:37:36Z")
I’ll run a test, then. Just trying to be nice to the readers. ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/vincent_vincent/32/19680_2.png) [@Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Vincent_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/16 "2025-09-07T17:42:10Z")
You could also spare yourself all this assignation trouble and simply type the I, II, and III in the binder at the very end. That’s what I would do. Most especially if I want it to appear mid-title. 🫥 ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/17 "2025-09-07T17:42:46Z")
I just like automations + have difficulties with maths and numbers xD ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/vincent_vincent/32/19680_2.png) [@Vincent\_Vincent](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/Vincent_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/18 "2025-09-07T17:44:14Z")
Have a go at it 🙂 It is good to learn. No time wasted. ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/19 "2025-09-07T17:46:27Z")
Maybe @AmberV has some tips to give, too? ---
**Author:** ![eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/eliamartin65/32/38876_2.png) [@eliamartin65](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/eliamartin65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220/20 "2025-09-07T17:51:48Z")
If I can’t do it in Scrivener, I’ll build a Vite + TS app for it (: [Next page](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/roman-numbered-chapters/150220.md?page=2)