Start New List Function Not Working

General comments and questions. Technical support.
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mgclark
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:12 pm
Location: United States

Start New List Function Not Working

Post by mgclark »

I have defined a "Numbered List" for creating lists instead of just clicking on the numbered list button in the ribbon. I am running into a problem where the numbering on a new list continues where a previous list (two pages above) left off. In other words, my list above ends with "3." and my new list, which I want to start with "1." actually starts with "4." and I am unable to change it. The "start new list" function does not work in this case. As can be seen in the attached file, the "start new list" option appears in its little box but it is grayed out. Any ideas?
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Robert
Posts: 1906
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 8:27 pm

Post by Robert »

Hi,
It is unclear what you mean by “I have defined a "Numbered List" for creating lists”. Did you mean to say that you created a style with list properties?

If the list is actually part of the properties of a style, you cannot use the "start new list" function directly in the document window. Instead, you need to dissociate the wrongly numbered paragraph from that style. You could for example, at least temporarily, associate it with the Normal or Body Text style.

Now if you want to apply new numbering to a paragraph further down the document, you should create another style with appropriate list properties to be applied to the paragraph with new numbering.

In other words, the numbering of paragraphs associated with a style which has list properties is always continuous. If you want to start a new list, you can either create a new style with list properties, or use the numbered list button on the toolbars.

HTH.
Cheers,
Robert
mgclark
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:12 pm
Location: United States

Post by mgclark »

Yes, I created a style with list properties and called it "Numbered List." I did not know that "paragraphs associated with a style which has list properties is always continuous."

The reason I created this style was to manage paragraph spacing (no space in successive list paragraphs and a space after the last list paragraph, hence I selected "automatic" as the "space after" in the paragraph option for my newly created style). This behavior is a bit different from just clicking the numbered list button where it retains the 10-point space between each list item (inherited from the Normal style).

As a solution I just changed the "space after" properties in Normal to "automatic" and then used the list number button. This gave both the desired spacing and numbering.

Thanks for your quick response and thanks for a great product!
Mike
Robert
Posts: 1906
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 8:27 pm

Post by Robert »

Mike,
Here is from Bulleted and Numbered Lists. Style-Controlled Lists.
As already mentioned, Atlantis does not allow a mix of style-controlled list formatting and direct list formatting. This is an absolute rule with Atlantis. You will not be allowed to change the list formatting characteristics of a style-controlled list directly in the document window. Instead, you must modify the list formatting characteristics of the associated style itself. Style-controlled lists are controlled by styles exclusively. Nothing else will do.
In other words, a style-controlled list is exclusively controlled by the numbering properties of the style. Such a list is unique, and its numbering must remain coherent from start to end. A “new list” in style-controlled lists is necessarily a new list controlled by a new style.

Now, you did not need to change the "space after" properties in Normal. It is generally advisable not to change the base style to accommodate specific formatting in a particular fragment of the document. You can perfectly well have a list created through direct formatting (i.e. with the toolbar button) and associate this same list with a style whose paragraph properties include specific “Spacing” before and after. The style itself need not have list properties. In this case, the list numbering will not be “style-controlled”, and you’ll be able to use the “Start new list” function in the document window.

HTH.
Cheers,
Robert
mgclark
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:12 pm
Location: United States

Post by mgclark »

Yes, that helps, Robert, and produces a better solution.

Thanks again,
Mike
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