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Adobe InDesign CS2

Working with Bulleted and Numbered Lists

A bulleted list places a bullet character before each new paragraph. A numbered list places a number and a separator before each item. If a paragraph is added or removed from a numbered list, the numbers change accordingly. You are able to change the style of the list characters with different fonts and indent spacing.

You must use the Bullets and Numbering dialog box to edit the formatting and indent spacing; you cannot select bullets or numbers using the Type Tool.

Return to topCreating Bulleted and Numbered Lists

One of the easiest ways to create bulleted or numbered lists is to type the list first, then add the bullets or numbers. You can also add bullets and numbering to paragraphs, causing each new paragraph to begin with a bullet character or number.

  1. Type the items to appear in the list

  2. Select all of the items

  3. NOTE: If the PageMaker Toolbar is not already displayed, from the Window menu, select PageMaker Toolbar
    A checkmark appears next to the selection if it is already displayed.
    PageMaker Toolbar

  4. From the PageMaker Toolbar, click NUMBERED LISTNumbered list buttonor BULLETED LISTBulleted list button

  5. OPTIONAL: To switch a numbered list to a bulleted list (or vice versa,) click the button you want to list to change to.

Removing Bullets and Numbers from Text

  1. Select all of the items in the list

  2. From the PageMaker Toolbar, click NUMBERED LISTNumbered list buttonor BULLETED LISTBulleted list button
    The numbers or bullets are removed from the text.

Return to topEditing Bullet Characters

You can modify the appearance of a bulleted list by using a different bullet character. If you do not want to use one of the existing bullet characters, you can add new ones.

Changing a Bullet Character:

  1. Select the bulleted list you want to change

  2. From the PageMaker Toolbar, press [Alt] + click BULLETED LISTBulleted list button
    The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.
    Bullet dialog box

  3. In the Bullet Character section, from the Bullet Character grid, select the desired bullet character

  4. OPTIONAL: From the Font Family pull-down list, select a font

  5. OPTIONAL: From the Font Style pull-down list, select a style

  6. From the Size pull-down list, select the size of the character
    NOTE: The default size is 12pt.

  7. From the Color pull-down list, select the color of the character

  8. OPTIONAL: Change the position of the character

  9. Click OK
    The bulleted list appears with the new bullet characters.

Adding a Bullet Character

  1. Select the bulleted list you want to change

  2. From the PageMaker Toolbar, press [Alt] + click BULLETED LISTBulleted list button
    The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.

  3. Click ADD...
    The Add Bullets dialog box appears.
    Add Bullets Dialog Box

  4. Select the character you want to use as a bullet
    HINT: Selecting a different font family or font style lets you view different bullet options.

  5. To ensure that the bullet is always displayed in the current font and style, select Remember Font with Bullet
    HINT: Remembering fonts is useful when a character may not be available in a different font.

  6. Click ADD

  7. To add additional characters, repeat steps 4-6

  8. Click OK
    You are returned to the Bullets and Numbering dialog box.

  9. From the Bullet Character grid, select the desired bullet character

  10. Select additional options (e.g. size, color) as desired

  11. Click OK
    The list appears with the new bullet character.

Removing a Bullet Character

Removing unused bullet characters can make it easier to find other characters that you frequently use.

  1. From the PageMaker Toolbar, press [Alt] + click BULLETED LISTBulleted list button
    The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.

  2. Select the bullet character you want to remove

  3. Click DELETE
    NOTE: The first preset bullet character cannot be deleted

  4. Click OK
    The bullet character is removed from the list.

Return to topEditing Numbered Lists

InDesign allows you to change the style or starting number of a numbered list. A numbered list will update itself when a list element is added or removed. However, only consecutive paragraphs are numbered sequentially. If you want to insert text without a number between list items, you must use the Start At option to continue sequentially numbering paragraphs after the non-numbered one.

  1. Select the numbered list you want to change

  2. From the PageMaker Toolbar, press [Alt] + click NUMBERED LISTNumbered list button
    The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.
    Numbers dialog box

  3. Under Numbering Style, from the Style pull-down list, select the desired style

  4. From the Separator pull-down list, select the desired separator from the list
    OR
    Type any single character
    NOTE: The separator character appears to the right of the numbered character.

  5. In the Start At text box, type the number you want the list to start at
    HINT: Changing this number is useful when you want to start a new set of numbers immediately following another set of numbers, or when you want the numbered list to continue after a non-numbered paragraph.

  6. From the Font Family pull-down list, select a font

  7. From the Font Style pull-down list, select a style

  8. From the Size pull-down list, select the size of the numbering character

  9. From the Color pull-down list, select the color of the numbering character

  10. OPTIONAL: Change the indentation position of the list numbers

  11. Click OK

Return to topSpacing and Indenting

InDesign allows you to change the spacing and indentation between bullets or numbers and the list elements.

  1. Select the numbered or bulleted list you want to change

  2. From the PageMaker Toolbar, press [Alt] + click NUMBERED LISTNumbered list buttonor BULLETED LISTBulleted list button
    The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.

  3. Under Bullet or Number Position, from the Position pull-down menu, select Hanging or Flush Left
    Spacing and Indenting boxes

  4. To change the distance between the left edge of the text box and the beginning point of the second line and successive lines of text, from the Left Indent text box, select the desired value
    HINT: This option affects all lines of text excluding the first line. Think of it as changing the default position for the beginning of text.

  5. To change the distance between the left edge of the text box and the bullet or number character, from the First Line Indent text box, select the desired value
    HINTS:
    This option changes the position of only the bullet or number in relation to Left Indent.
    Use a negative number to move the bullet character towards the edge of the text box and away from the text.

  6. To change the position of the first line of text, from the Tab Position text box, select the desired value
    HINTS:
    This changes the distance between the left edge of the text box and the text in the first line.
    To line the text up with the successive lines of text, set the Tab Position to the same value as the Left Indent.

  7. Click OK
    The spacing and/or indenting changes are applied to the selected bulleted or numbered list(s).

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