Editing a numbered list in InDesign primarily involves modifying its appearance and behavior, especially the style of the numbering itself.
Understanding Numbered List Editing in InDesign
When you talk about "editing" a numbered list in InDesign, this can mean several things, such as changing the text, adjusting indents, or altering the sequence. However, a fundamental aspect, and one you control through specific features, is changing the format or style of the numbers (or letters, or Roman numerals) that introduce each list item.
Steps to Edit Your Numbered List Style
To change the style of the numbering in your InDesign list, follow these simple steps:
- Keep your selection on the numbered list. Make sure the text cursor is within the list you want to edit, or select the paragraphs that constitute the list.
- Click on the option Bullets and Numbering. You can typically find this setting in the Control panel when working with text, or more comprehensively within the Paragraph Styles Options dialog box if you are using styles (recommended for consistency). It's also accessible via the Type menu > Bulleted & Numbered Lists > Convert Numbering to Text (though this is for fixing issues) or directly editing the style. Accessing it through the Paragraph panel's options menu or Paragraph Style Options is standard.
- In the panel that opens you will find the section Numbering style. This section is specifically dedicated to controlling how your list markers appear.
- Here you can change the format (numbers, letters, Roman numerals, etc.). Within the Numbering Style section, you'll see options to switch between different formats for your list markers.
Choosing Your Numbering Format
The "Numbering style" options allow you to define the sequence format. You can select from common types:
- Numbers: 1, 2, 3...
- Lowercase Letters: a, b, c...
- Uppercase Letters: A, B, C...
- Lowercase Roman: i, ii, iii...
- Uppercase Roman: I, II, III...
Changing the format here instantly updates the appearance of your selected numbered list. This section also often allows you to control aspects like the character used after the number (e.g., a period ".", parenthesis ")"), spacing after the number, and the starting number for the list.
Editing the numbered list style is a straightforward process accessed through the Bullets and Numbering settings, allowing you to quickly switch between standard numbering formats to suit your document's design needs.
