Operation Manual
Tip
If you notice unexpected formatting changes occurring in your document, this is the first
place to look for the cause.
The Help describes each of these choices and how to activate the autoformats. Some common
unwanted or unexpected formatting changes include:
• Horizontal lines. If you type three or more hyphens (---), underscores (___) or equal signs
(===) on a line and then press Enter, the paragraph is replaced by a horizontal line as wide
as the page. The line is actually the lower border of the preceding paragraph.
• Bulleted and numbered lists. A bulleted list is created when you type a hyphen (-), star (*),
or plus sign (+), followed by a space or tab at the beginning of a paragraph. A numbered list
is created when you type a number followed by a period (.), followed by a space or tab at
the beginning of a paragraph. Automatic numbering is only applied to paragraphs formatted
with the Default, Text body or Text body indent paragraph styles.
To turn autoformatting on or off, choose Format > AutoCorrect and select or deselect the items on
the list.
Creating numbered or bulleted lists
There are several ways to create numbered or bulleted lists:
• Use autoformatting, as described above.
• Use list (numbering) styles, as described in Chapter 6, Introduction to Styles, and Chapter
7, Working with Styles, in the Writer Guide.
• Use the Numbering and Bullets buttons on the Formatting toolbar or on the Paragraph
panel of the Sidebar’s Properties deck: select the paragraphs for the list, and then click the
appropriate button on the toolbar or in the Sidebar.
Note
It is a matter of personal preference whether you type your information first, then apply
numbering/bullets, or apply them as you type.
Using the Bullets and Numbering toolbar
You can create nested lists (where one or more list items has a sub-list under it, as in an outline)
by using the buttons on the Bullets and Numbering toolbar (Figure 76). You can move items up or
down the list, create sub-points, change the style of bullets, and access the Bullets and Numbering
dialog, which contains more detailed controls. Use View > Toolbars > Bullets and Numbering to
see the toolbar.
Note
If numbering or bullets are being applied automatically in a way that you find
inappropriate, you can switch them off temporarily by unchecking Format >
AutoCorrect > While Typing.
Using the Sidebar for Bullets and Numbering
The Bullets and Numbering features (drop-down palettes of tools) on the Paragraph panel on the
Properties deck of the Sidebar can also be used to create nested lists and access the Bullets and
98 | Getting Started with LibreOffice 5.0