Getting Started with Bulleted Lists

Creating a multi-level bulleted list in Adobe InDesign involves using the Bullets and Numbering feature and controlling the indentation levels of your list items. The fundamental technique, as highlighted in resources on creating structured lists, is to increase the level for sub-items while keeping them under the same List name.

Here’s a breakdown of the process:

Before creating multiple levels, you need a basic bulleted list.

1. Select Text: Select the text paragraphs you want to format as a list.
2. Apply Bullets:
   • Go to Type > Bulleted & Numbered Lists > Apply Bullets.
   • Alternatively, use the Bullets and Numbering section in the Paragraph panel (Window > Type & Tables > Paragraph).

This will turn your selected paragraphs into a single-level bulleted list.

Adding Sub-Levels (Multi-Level Structure)

To create a multi-level bulleted list, you define different levels of indentation and appearance within the same list structure.

1. Position Cursor: Place your text cursor at the beginning of the paragraph you want to become a sub-item (i.e., indented under the bullet above it).

2. Increase Level: This is the key step for creating nested lists.

   • Press the Tab key on your keyboard. This is the most common and quickest method.
   • Alternatively, go to Type > Bulleted & Numbered Lists > Increase Level.

   When you increase the level, the text indents, and InDesign formats it as a sub-item. According to tutorials, for consistency and proper structuring, these sub-items should remain under the same List name as the main list items. Increasing the level transforms the item, for example, moving from the first level to increase level to number two (the second level), as seen in list tutorials.

3. Continue Structuring: Repeat the "Increase Level" step for any subsequent items you want to place at this sub-level. You can press Tab again to go to a third level, and so on.

• Tip: To move a sub-item back up to a higher level (less indented), place your cursor at the beginning of the paragraph and go to Type > Bulleted & Numbered Lists > Decrease Level, or press Shift + Tab.

Customizing Multi-Level Bulleted Lists

For fine-tuned control over indents, spacing, and bullet appearance at each level, use the Bullets and Numbering dialog box:

1. Access Options: With your text cursor in the list, go to Type > Bulleted & Numbered Lists > Convert Text to List (if not already a list) or Type > Bulleted & Numbered Lists > List Options... (if it is a list).
2. Define Levels: In the dialog box, you can select each Level (1, 2, 3, etc.) from the dropdown menu.
3. Adjust Settings: For each level, you can customize:
   • Bullet Character: Choose a different bullet symbol.
   • Text Before/After: Add characters (like a tab or space) after the bullet.
   • Indent settings: Control Left Indent, First Line Indent, and Tab Position to precisely manage the spacing and alignment of the bullet and the text that follows.

Adjusting these settings allows you to create visually distinct indentations for each level of your multi-level bulleted list.

Quick Reference

Here’s a simple table summarizing the main actions:

By following these steps, you can effectively create and manage multi-level bulleted lists in your InDesign documents, structuring your content clearly and visually.