Apache OpenOffice Community Forum

hi - is anyone else frustrated by the way the bullets and numbering software is working?

I'm having to waste lots of time undoing the automatic numbering system which imposes itself - I have to go back to Tools/Bullets and Numbering and click on 'Remove' to reset (sometimes have to do this several times!).

For example, if I want to number points like:
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2 etc

as soon as I hit the return key after the 3.1 line the software automatically prints 3.2.

There are other problems which I won't go into now. The OO software doesn't seem to 'learn' in the way that Word does (and I don't want to go back to using MS).

Am I missing something? Do I need to take a tutorial??

Paul

Either you turn off the auto numbering (Tools>AutoCorrect, Options tab, then uncheck the Apply numbering - symbol * option) or you use a Numbering style: open the Stylist (F11), display the list styles (right icon in the left group) and double click the style you want. Then, after you've hit the Enter key for a new point, hit the TAB key to change the level. You just have to configure the numbering style.

I were you, I wouldn't use the Bullet/Numbering button in toolbar.

NB: OOo cannot guess that after 3.1 you want 3.1.1; 3.2 is far more logical. Please be realist!

Thanks to add '[Solved]' at beginning of your first post title (edit button) if your issue has been fixed.

I move your thread to the Writer forum.

What's wrong with the "promote" and "demote" buttons on the "bullets and numbering" toolbar?
If I have a "3.1", I want a "3.2" following it: I decide when and how change level.
For a tutorial, you can first look at the "numbering" entry on the OOo help.

Hagar de l'Est wrote:
The problem is with the hard coded numbering style called by the Bullet/Numbering button

Thanks! ... its been driving me nuts for ages. Is the Bullet button hard-coded to a specific Style (if so which one? - I really can't work it out), or is it actually hard coded to format the bullet it creates to a specific font/size/colour that is not user-configurable (this just doesn't seem like a logical thing to do).

I've set up my "List 1" style to format bulleted lists just how I want them, but it really would be useful if I could get the Bullet button to create bulleted lists in this "List 1" format. Is there any way of getting around this (other than just ignoring the button)?

See here: [Issue] Default Bullet Point Settings.

picpac wrote:For example, if I want to number points like:
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2 etc

as soon as I hit the return key after the 3.1 line the software automatically prints 3.2.

That's what it should do. Pressing Return while in a numbered list starts a new list item at the same level in the list. It's the user's responsibility to change the level if a different level is required. In this case, simply press the Tab key immediately after pressing Return. That demotes the new list item one level. Pressing Shift+Tab promotes the list item one level.