Wrong paragraph style applied to selected text

[TP123]

Trying to switch from MS Word to LibreOffice Writer.
Using LibreOffice Writer 25.8.3.2 & Windows 10.
I have defined a “Default Paragraph Style” with the following:
Arial @ 11pt
Align Left
Paragraph Spacing (above/below) @ 0.00/0.00
Indent (all three) @ 0.00"
Spacing @ 1
This style has been saved in a personal template (in the personal template folder) which is loaded when Writer starts.
When I start Writer, in any document that I create this is the default paragraph style that appears and is used.

My problems and questions:
In a documents I created an “Ordered list” with 5 items.
They appear numbered 1-5 with the “Default Paragraph Style” options as mentioned above.
I did not like the end result and decided to change the numbered list back to regular text (back to the “Default Paragraph Style”).
However, when I choose “Default Paragraph Style”, either from the drop-down from the toolbar or from the style list on the right edge, the font reverts to “Liberation Serif” & Font size of 12pt (which is the installed default LibreOffice, not the one I have defined in the personal template) and stays as an “Ordered List”.

1. Why is the paragraph reverting to “Liberation Serif” and not the font I have defined in my “Default Paragraph Style”?
2. Why is the paragraph remaining numbered as “Ordered List”?
3. How can I have Writer apply my “Default Paragraph Style” instead of the installation default?
   CTRL+A/CTRL+M reverts the entire document to the “Liberation Serif” font & 12pt

[ajlittoz]

Attach your document.

[TP123]

Astoria.odt (18.2 KB)
The file with the above issue (I think I did the attachment correctly).

[ajlittoz]

Your document is completely direct formatted. All the mess originates from this.

@TP123

Why is the paragraph reverting to “Liberation Serif” and not the font I have defined in my “Default Paragraph Style”?

Simply because Default Paragraph Style (DFS) is not correctly set.

As it is, you succeeded in “unsetting” everything in DFS. It is now fully “transparent” (does not impose any attribute). It only inherits from Tools>Options, LO Writer>Basic Fonts (Western).

And you probably did not apply DFS, but also Format>Clear direct-formatting (or Ctrl+M). Otherwise you would have kept your direct formatting which always takes precedence over styles.

@TP123

Why is the paragraph remaining numbered as “Ordered List”?

List numbering lives in another “dimension” than typography. And once again, you create your list with the toolbar button or Format>List & Numbering.

You could transfer list numbering into a paragraph style, thus specialising this style for list items, by associating to it a list style. Then, list numbering is automatically handled by paragraph style application. Applying another one without list erases the numbers. Reapplying the style with list renumbers the items. But this is already advanced usage. Become first familiar with the basics of styling.

@TP123

How can I have Writer apply my “Default Paragraph Style” instead of the installation default?
CTRL+A/CTRL+M reverts the entire document to the “Liberation Serif” font & 12pt

By configuring adequately DFS.

The problem is located in your template TP_Template (attach it for analysis) and is aggravated by your immoderate use of direct formatting.

Remember that direct formatting always takes precedence over styles. So applying a style is not sufficient to see changes if direct formatting sets the same attribute(s) as the style.

Nota:
Styles in Writer are organised hierarchically to allow for versatile professional tuning of formatting. Styles inherit their initial configuration from their ancestor. Therefore you only set the difference between the ancestor and the current one. As a consequence, when you change an attribute in the ancestor which is not overridden in the child, this attribute is also changed in the child.

DFS is the ultimate ancestor of all styles. Whatever you change there impacts all other styles in various ways (depending on what is overridden). DFS is the ideal spot where you set your preferred attributes to give your document a personal “signature”.

However, DFS should never be used for any text because you’ll be tempted to tune it for this text, forgetting about the side-effects on all other styles. The “standard” style for your discourse is Body Text.