Creating lists
You can create numbered lists, bulleted lists, and definition lists in Contribute. You can also create sublists within your lists.
This section covers the following topics:
Creating numbered lists
You can use numbered lists for information organized as a sequence or progression. You can apply numbering as you create the list, or you can add numbering to an existing list.
To create a numbered list:
- Place the insertion point in your draft where you want to add the list, and then do one of the following:
- Click the Numbered List button in the toolbar.
- Select Format > List > Numbered List.
- Type the first list item.
- Press Enter to type another item, then repeat for each item.
- When you finish typing the list, do one of the following to turn off numbering:
- Press Enter twice.
- Press Enter, then click the Numbered List button in the toolbar.
To create a numbered list from existing text:
- In your draft, select multiple lines of existing text.
- Do one of the following:
- Click the Numbered List button in the toolbar.
- Select Format > List > Numbered List.
Creating bulleted lists
Use bulleted lists to organize information that is related but in no particular sequence. You can apply bullets as you create the list, or you can add bullets to an existing list.
To create a bulleted list:
- Place the insertion point in your draft where you want to add the list, then do one of the following:
- Click the Bulleted List button in the toolbar.
- Select Format > List > Bulleted List.
- Type the first list item.
- Press Enter to type another item, then repeat for each item.
- When you finish typing the list, do one of the following to turn off the bullets:
- Press Enter twice.
- Press Enter, then click the Bulleted List button in the toolbar.
To create a bulleted list from existing text:
- In your draft, select multiple lines of existing text.
- Do one of the following:
- Click the Bulleted List button in the toolbar.
- Select Format > List > Bulleted List.
Creating definition lists
A definition list is a series of items, each with an indented sub-item.
To create a definition list:
- Place the insertion point in your draft where you want to create the list.
- Select Format > List > Definition List.
- Type the first list item.
- Press Enter to type the indented definition.
- Press Enter to type the next list item, then repeat as necessary.
- When you finish typing the list, do one of the following to turn off the indenting:
- Press Enter twice.
- Press Enter, then select Format > List > Definition List.
To create a definition list from existing text:
- In your draft, select multiple lines of existing text.
- Select Format > List > Definition List.
Creating sublists
You can change the level of a numbered or bulleted list item to create a nested list. For example, you might have a bulleted list where one of the bullets has a sublist of bullets.
The nested list does not have to be of the same type as the parent list. For instance, you can nest a bulleted list in a numbered list. You can have multiple nested lists within your list.

To create a sublist:
- In your draft, place the insertion point at the end of the line within an existing list where you want to create the sublist.
- Press Enter.
- Do one of the following:
- Click the Indent button in the toolbar.
- Press Tab.
This option is not available for template-based pages or in tables.
- If you want the sublist and parent list to be of different types, click the Numbered List or Bulleted List button in the toolbar, as appropriate.
- Type the list item, and then press Enter to enter more items in the sublist.
- To leave the sublist, press Enter twice or click the Outdent button in the toolbar.
Setting list property options
You can change the appearance of an entire list, or change the look of an individual list item in a bulleted or numbered list.
To set list properties for an entire list:
- In your draft, select the entire list or select two or more list items to apply properties to the entire list.
- Do one of the following:
- Select Format > List > Properties.
- Right-click, select List, then select Properties.
This option is not available for template-based pages or in tables.
The List Properties dialog box appears.

- In the List properties section, change options for the list:
- List type specifies whether the list is a bulleted, numbered, directory, or menu list.
Depending on the list type you select, different options are enabled or disabled in the dialog box.
- Style determines the style of numbers or bullets used for a numbered or bulleted list.
Contribute applies this style to all items unless you specify a new style for individual items in the list.
- Start at number sets the value for the first item in a numbered list.
- Click OK.
Contribute applies your changes to the list. It also applies the new style automatically to any items you add to the list.
To set list properties for a list item:
- In your draft, place the insertion point in the bulleted or numbered list item you want to change.
Note: If you select multiple items, list properties will be applied to the entire list.
- Do one of the following:
- Select Format > List > Properties.
- Right-click, select List, then select Properties.
This option is not available for template-based pages or in tables.
The List Properties dialog box appears.
- In the Selected item section, change options for the list:
- Style specifies a style for the selected list item.
Options in the pop-up menu are specific to the list type, either bulleted or numbered.
- Reset to number sets a specific number from which to number list item entries.
- Click OK.
Contribute applies your changes to the list item.