Create Lists in Multiline Text

You can create bulleted lists, lettered or numbered lists, or simple outlines in multiline text.

Lines of multiline text can be formatted as a list. When you add or delete an item, or move an item up or down a level, the list numbering automatically adjusts. You can remove and reapply list formatting with the same method as used in most text editors.

Use Automatic List Formatting

By default, list formatting is applied to all text that looks like a list. Text that meets all the following criteria is considered to be a list:

The line begins with one or more letters or numbers or a symbol.
The letters or numbers is followed by punctuation.
A space after the punctuation is created by pressing TAB.
The text following the space is ended by ENTER or SHIFT+ENTER.

NoteIf you do not want list formatting applied to all text that fits the criteria, clear the Allow Bullets and Lists option. (Right-click in the In-Place Text Editor, click Bullets and Lists, and clear Allow Bullets and Lists.) When Allow Bullets and Lists is not checked, you cannot create new formatted lists in the multiline text object.

To create a list, use one of the following methods:

Apply list formatting to new or selected text.
Use Auto-list (on by default) and type the elements of a list.
With Auto-list off, type the elements of a list and close and reopen the editor to convert the text to a list.

Apply List Formatting

When you apply list formatting, you can specify bullets, uppercase or lowercase letters, or numbers. Default settings are used for the type of list you choose. Letters or numbers are followed by a period. Nested lists use a double bullet, letter, or number. Items are indented based on the tab stops on the ruler in the In-Place Text Editor.

Use Auto-list to Type a List

When Auto-list is on, you can create a list as you type. You can use letters, numbers, or symbols.

For example, in the editor, enter \U+25CB, press TAB, and then enter some text. This creates a empty circle style bullet.

Not all symbols are available from the character map for a particular text font. However, if you specify the Unicode text directly (\U+25CB in this case), you can always get the bullet format of your choice.

NotePress TAB after you enter the Unicode text or symbol, or it will remain a separate character.

You can also paste a symbol from the Character Map dialog box

The following characters can be used as punctuation after the number or letter when you type a list but cannot be used as bullets:

Character	Description
.	Period
:	Colon
)	Close parenthesis
>	Close angle bracket
]	Close square bracket
}	Close curly bracket

Paste a List from Another Document

If you copy a nested bulleted list (a list within a list) from Microsoft Word and paste the list into multiline text, the bullets that are displayed as empty circles cannot be formatted like other bullets in multiline text. This is because Word uses the letter o instead of a bullet for nested bulleted lists. You can remove formatting from the nested list and reapply to change the bullets to double bullets.

Procedure

To format multiline text as a list

Click Home tabAnnotation panelMultiline Text. At the Command prompt, enter mtext.
Specify opposite corners of a bounding box to define the width of the multiline text object.
To expand the Text Formatting toolbar, click Options button Show Options.
If you are converting multiline text to a list, select the paragraphs.
NoteList formatting is only available when the Allow Bullets and Lists option is checked (the default).
On the expanded toolbar, click Numbering, Bullets, or Uppercase Letters.
- Numbering. Uses numbers with periods for the items in a list.
- Bullets. Uses a bullet or other character for the items in a list.
- Uppercase Letters. Uses uppercase letters with periods for the items in a list. If the list has more items than the alphabet has letters, the sequence continues by using double letters. To use lowercase letters, right-click in the editor. Click Bullets and Lists Lettered Lowercase.
If you are creating new list items, enter the text.
To end the list, press ENTER to move to a new line. Click the button that you clicked to start the list.
To save your changes and exit the editor, use one of the following methods:
- On the MTEXT ribbon contextual tab, in the Close panel, click Close Text Editor.
- Click in the drawing outside the editor.
- Press CTRL+ENTER.

To remove list formatting from multiline text

To create a lettered or numbered list in multiline text as you type

Click Home tabAnnotation panelMultiline Text. At the Command prompt, enter mtext.
Specify opposite corners of a bounding box to define the width of the multiline text object.
To expand the Text Formatting toolbar, click Options button Show Options.
Click Bullets and Lists. Verify that Allow Auto-list and Allow Bullets and Lists are checked.
Enter a letter or a number and a period (or other punctuation).
The following characters can be used as punctuation after letters and numbers: period (.), colon (:), close parenthesis ()), close angle bracket (>), close square bracket (]), and close curly bracket (}).
Press TAB.
Enter the text of the list item. Press ENTER to move to the next item, or press SHIFT+ENTER to add a plain paragraph before the next item.
The item is automatically lettered or numbered in sequence.
Press ENTER twice to end the list.
To save your changes and exit the editor, use one of the following methods:
- Click in the drawing outside the editor.
- Press CTRL+ENTER.
- Click the Close Editor icon in the Multiline Text panel.

To create a bulleted list in multiline text as you type

Click Home tabAnnotation panelMultiline Text. At the Command prompt, enter mtext.
Specify opposite corners of a bounding box to define the width of the multiline text object.
In the Options panel, click the Options icon.
Click Bullets and Lists. Verify that Allow Auto-list and Allow Bullets and Lists are selected (tick mark).
Start a line of text by entering \U+2022 (the Unicode string for a bullet) or by selecting a bullet character or another symbol.
NoteThe following characters cannot be used as bullets: period (.), colon (:), close parenthesis ()), close angle bracket (>), close square bracket (]), and close curly bracket (}).
Alternatively, click Options Symbol Other.
The Character Map dialog box appears.
Double-click a symbol to copy it to the clipboard.
Close the Character Map dialog box.
Paste the symbol to the drawing, and press the up-arrow and End key to return the cursor to the same line.
Press TAB.
Enter the text of the list item. Press ENTER to move to the next item, or press SHIFT+ENTER to add a plain paragraph before the next item.
The bullet character is automatically added to the next item.
Press ENTER twice to end the list.
To save your changes and exit the editor, use one of the following methods:
- On the MTEXT ribbon contextual tab, in the Close panel, click Close Text Editor.
- Click in the drawing outside the editor.
- Press CTRL+ENTER.

To move a list item in multiline text down a level

To separate an existing list

To convert the lists in a multiline text object to plain text

Quick Reference

Commands

System Variables