Problem with 'longtable' caption number with 'sidewaystable' from 'rotating' package

Question

I am creating longtables rotated sideways with sidewaystable from rotating package. I am shocked and irritated to see that it is increasing table reference numbers 2 at a time! If I am adding the \caption{}s before the longtable, it is starting from Table No. 1 and the next Table No. is 3. On the other hand, if I am adding \caption{} after the longtable, it is starting from Table No. 2 and the next Table No. is 4. Following is an MWE:

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{longtable}
\usepackage{rotating}
\begin{document}
    \begin{sidewaystable}
%       \caption{text}
        \begin{longtable}{cc}
            a & b
        \end{longtable}
        \caption{text}
    \end{sidewaystable}
    \begin{sidewaystable}
%       \caption{text}
        \begin{longtable}{cc}
            a & b
        \end{longtable}
        \caption{text}
    \end{sidewaystable}
\end{document}

I want to place my table caption below the table and want the table referencing in the natural order (reset after a chapter). Please help.

PS: I also have tables in tabular, tabularx, tabular* and longtable (without sidewaystable) modes in my original document.

Answer 1

sidewaystable environments, like table environments, cannot span more than a page. Hence, it's not a good idea to embed a longtable environment in a sidewaystable environment.

Do load the pdflscape package, though, employ its landscape environment, and embed the longtable environment in the landscape environment.

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{longtable}
\usepackage{pdflscape} % for 'landscape' env.
\begin{document}
\begin{landscape}
    \begin{longtable}{cc}
        
        \caption{text} \\
        \hline
        \endhead
        
        \hline
        \endfoot
        
        a & b \\
        c & d 
    \end{longtable}     
\end{landscape}
\end{document}