Lists can be used to better organize an article and make it easier to scan.
- If you have more than two items in a row and order doesn't matter, use a bullet (unordered) list.
- If you have more than one step in step-by-step instructions, use a numbered (ordered list).
- If you only have one instructional step, use a bullet.
- Try to limit lists to a max of 7-9 steps as they are easier to read and follow.
The TDX Editing toolbar contains an Insert/Remove Numbered list button and an Insert/Remove Bulleted list button.
- Creating a numbered (ordered) list
- Creating an bullet (unordered) list
- Creating a nested list
- Creating a nested list that uses both numbers and bullets
- List punctuation
Creating a numbered (ordered) list
- Click the Insert/Remove Numbered list button to create a simple ordered list. The Default style, Arabic numeral, will be applied.
Example
Do the following to complete the task:
- Do this step first.
- Do this step second.
- Finish with this step.
Creating a bullet (unordered) list
- Click the Insert/Remove Bulleted list button to create a simple ordered list. The Default style, the filled in circle, will be applied.
Example
Here are some ideas:
- Idea number one
- Here's another idea
- And one more idea
Creating a nested numbered (ordered) list
To create a nested, numbered list:
- Click the Numbered list button. The Default style,Arabic numeral is applied.
- Press the Tab key or click the Increase indent button
to make a sub-step.
- Select the Numbered list drop-down menu and select Lower Alpha.
- Press Enter.
- Tab to make a sub-sub-step. Use Lower Roman.
- Second sub-sub-sub step.
- Tab to make a sub-sub-sub-step. It will default to Lower Roman.
- If you need sub-sub-sub-sub steps (you probably won't), the Lower Roman style will be applied by default when you tab or indent...
- ...as seen here
- Press the Tab key or click the Increase indent button
- Click the Decrease indent button
as many times as you need to return to the different levels of the list.
- Etc...
Creating a nested list that uses both numbers and bullets
You can create combination lists when the situation warrants. For example, if a step's action requires the user to make a choice between options, the options should be listed as bullets.
- Do this step first.
- Make a bullet sub-list. TDX automatically applies the bullet style.
- Option A
- Option B
- Option C has two steps
- This is an ordered list. Click the Numbered list menu and choose Lower Alpha.
- And another
- Do this step now.
- Etc...
List punctuation
Punctuate bullets consistently.
- If bullets are sentences, end each one with a period.
- If bullets are phrases or fragments, use no end punctuation.
If you are using sentences, use them consistently. However, you can use phrases or fragments for sub-bullets; just be consistent.