(Legacy) InDesign CS3: Working with Bulleted and Numbered Lists

A bulleted list places a bullet character before each new paragraph, while 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. InDesign CS3 allows you to change the style of the list characters with different fonts and indent spacing.

NOTE: 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.

Creating 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. From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool. 

2. Select the desired insertion point for your list.

3. Type the items to appear in the list.

4. Select the text.

5. If the Command Bar is not already displayed, from the Window menu, select Object & Layout » Command Bar.
   NOTE: A checkmark appears next to the selection if it is already displayed.
   

6. From the Command Bar, click Numbered List  or Bulleted List. 
   Numbers/bullets appear next to the items in your list.

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

Removing Bullets and Numbers from Text

1. Select all of the items in the list.

2. From the Command Bar, click the icon associated with the list type currently applied (Numbered List  or Bulleted List ).
   The numbers or bullets are removed from the text.

Editing 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 Command Bar, press [Alt] + click Bulleted List.
   The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.
   

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

4. (Optional) In the Bullet or Number Position section, make the desired changes to the bullets alignment and indentation.

5. (Optional) To change the tab position of the character, use the Tab Position text box or nudge buttons to indicate the desired position.

6. 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 Command Bar, press [Alt] + click Bulleted List. 
   The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.

3. Click Add...
   The Add Bullets dialog box appears.
   

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. 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 Command Bar, press [Alt] + click Bulleted List. 
   The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.

2. In the Bullet Character section, from the Bullet Character grid, 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.

Editing 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 mode option to continue sequentially numbering paragraphs after the non-numbered one.

1. Select the numbered list you want to change.

2. From the Command Bar, press [Alt] + click Numbered List.
   The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.
   

3. From the List Type pull-down list, select Numbers.

4. Under Numbering Style, from the Format pull-down list, select the desired format.

5. From the Mode pull-down list, select the desired mode.

6. If you selected the Start At mode, 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.

7. (Optional) In the Bullet or Number Position section, make the desired changes to the bullets alignment and indentation.

8. (Optional) To change the tab position of the character, use the Tab Position text box or nudge buttons to indicate the desired position.

9. Click OK.

Spacing and Indenting Lists

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 Command Bar, press [Alt] + click Numbered List  or Bulleted List. 
   The Bullets and Numbering dialog box appears.

3. In the Bullet or Number Position section, from the Left Indent text box, type a value for the distance you would like the text indented.
   OR
   Use the arrows to move the number up or down.
   HINT: To view these changes as you make them, select Preview.
   

4. From the First Line Indent text box, type a value for the distance you would like between the text and the bullets.
   HINT: Use a negative number to move the bullet character closer to the edge of the text box, and use a positive number to move the bullet character closer to the text.

5. To change the position of the first line of text, use the Tab Position text box or nudge buttons to indicate the desired position.
   HINT: To line the text up with the successive lines of text, set the Tab Position to the same value as the Left Indent.

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