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Just being fussy, can I have a space between the bullet list paragraphs automatically, without the empty paragraphs? I’m trying to be squeaky clean.
There are some (too many) List paragraph styles provided as a sub-style of Body Text. They are separated into two main names: List, and Numbering. List is intended for bullets because Numbering is intended for numbering.
Because the number of styles is so exceptionally long that under List I tend to make a style called Count for numbering and a style called Bullet for bullets. But lets use List 1 style
- The first step is to set your paragraph spacing in the paragraph style. As it inherits from Body Text you don’t need to do anything for paragraph spacing as you will have already set that.
If you ever need the lists to close up to normal line spacing you can tick the box Do not add space between paragraphs of the same style - In the List 1 dialogue, select Outline & List tab. In the List Style, select Bullet •. OK
- Remove the Bullet • list style from your list. Then apply the List 1 paragraph style
- When you are at the end of your list, make a return and then press Ctrl+0 to return to Body Text.
Sheesh, heavy stuff. Ok, I’ll play with it.
Not that heavy. The most difficult is to understand the principles or at least to develop a mental model sufficient to drive efficiently the application.
Practically everything in Writer is based on styles which allow you (when geometry is at stake) to control the box model of words, paragraphs, pages and frames. List styles introduce a bit of complexity because they are not “independent” but add properties to paragraph while taking ownership of left edge (in LTR scripts; right edge for RTL).
The underlying principle is extremely powerful but you need a few years of intense practice before you pass the mind barrier.
Right. Be assured I’m trying to use the model as it is, but there are things that are hard to penetrate.
‘Bullet . List Style’ shows up under ‘Styles’ but seems to have no membership in any F11 styles list. And referencing EarnestAI’s comments above, there’s some tie-in to Lists, but I can’t see which List is associated with Bullet. Confusing.
Exact. That’s part of the freedom in formatting. Everyone has his own preferences regarding which bullet to use. And, additionally, there are two ways to apply list styles:
- something akin to direct formatting but without being so stricto sensu
You manually apply the list style to the paragraph.
Pro: easy to do, applies to any paragraph style, does not lock you with a specific style
Con: all the hindrance of direct formatting (and is not cleared with Ctrl+M - you explicitly associate a list style with a paragraph style (List n for bullet, Numbering n for number)
Pro: clearly compliant with semantic formatting method, conveys your intent unambiguously
Con: a paragraph style is specifically dedicated to this role (implying you may need several paragraph styles if item formatting differs)
As LO Writer is shipped, no list style is associated to any paragraph style. It is left to your taste.