Microsoft PowerPoint XP

Working with Bulleted and Numbered Text

PowerPoint allows you to number or bullet any selected text. Bulleting and numbering is useful when creating lists or instructions. This document will cover the following:

Adding Bullets and Numbers to Text
Changing the Spacing between Bullets/Numbers and the Text
Changing the Format of Bullets and Numbers

Adding Bullets and Numbers to Text

Toolbar Option

On the desired slide, select the text that you would like to add bullets or numbering to
To add bullets, on the Formatting toolbar, click BULLETS
OR
To add numbering, on the Formatting toolbar, click NUMBERING
To deactivate a bullet or numbering function, select the appropriate text and on the toolbar, click the active button

Keyboard Option

For a bulleted list, type an asterisk (*) where you would like the list to begin
OR
For a numbered list, type a letter or number, (e.g., A or 1), and a period where you would like the list to begin
Type a space and then create the first line of text
Press [Enter]
An asterisk will turn into a bullet, and the next line will begin with a bullet, or the next letter or number, (e.g., B or 2).

Changing the Spacing between Bullets/Numbers and the Text

If the ruler is not already displayed, from the View menu, select Ruler
The ruler appears above and to the side of the selected slide.
Select the bulleted or numbered text you wish to alter
At the top of the slide, adjust the left indent margin until the desired spacing is achieved
Repeat steps 1-3 as necessary

Changing the Format of Bullets and Numbers

Accessing the Bullets and Numbering Dialog Box

Select the bulleted or numbered text you wish to alter
OR
Place the cursor where you would like a bulleted or numbered list to appear
From the Format menu, select Bullets and Numbering...
The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.

Altering Bullets

In the Bullets and Numbering dialog box, select the Bulleted tab
Select the style of bullet you would like to use
To alter the size of the bullets, in the Size text box use the arrows to find the desired value
To change the color of the bullets, open the Color pull-down list and select a color
To learn more about using and creating color in PowerPoint, see Using the Colors Dialog Box
To select a picture bullet from the gallery or to import a picture from your own file, click PICTURE...
To select from any list of characters from a choice of fonts, click CUSTOMIZE...
Click OK

Altering Numbering

In the Bullets and Numbering dialog box, select the Numbered tab
Select the style of numbering you would like to use
To alter the size of the numbering, in the Size text box use the arrows to find the desired value
To change the color of the numbering, open the Color pull-down list and select a color
To learn more about using and creating color in PowerPoint, refer to Using the Colors Dialog Box.
To determine at which number your list will start, in the Start At text box use the arrows to find the desired number
Click OK