# Bulleted and Numbered Lists

> Create bulleted, numbered and structured lists in VB6 with ListType, BulletAttribute and NumberingAttribute, change list levels and open ListAttrDialog.

- **Product:** TX Text Control ActiveX
- **Section:** Documentation
- **Kind:** Topic
- **Path:** TX Text Control ActiveX > Document Editor > Bulleted and Numbered Lists
- **3241 words**
- **Web URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/lists/
- **LLMs URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/lists/llms.txt
- **LLMs-Full URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/lists/llms-full.txt

---

Do you need a list of items with bullets, with numbers or with outline numbers that include the numbers of the higher levels? In `TXTextControl`, a list is a paragraph attribute: each paragraph of a list carries the list type and the attributes of its bullet or number, including its level. Three properties set them in code, and a built-in dialog box lets users set them.

What follows explains how list types and list attributes work together, then creates bulleted, numbered and structured lists in Visual Basic 6, changes the list level and removes lists. The code comes from the **Bullets and Numbering** menu of the *TXWords* sample.

### How Lists Work

- **The list type.** [ListType](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/listtype-property/llms-full.txt) returns or sets the list type of the selected paragraphs: `txListNone` (1) for no list, `txListBulleted` (2), `txListNumbered` (4) or `txListStructured` (8). When the selection contains paragraphs of different lists, it returns a combination of these values.
- **The attributes.** [BulletAttribute](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/bulletattribute-property/llms-full.txt) and [NumberingAttribute](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/numberingattribute-property/llms-full.txt) set the bullet character, the number format, the level, the positions and more. Each takes the attribute to change as a parameter, for example `NumberingAttribute(txNumberingFormat)`.
- **The order.** An attribute you set has an effect only when `ListType` is set the next time. Set the attributes first and the list type last.
- **The levels.** Lists have up to 10 levels. The topmost level has the number 1.

All three properties are available at run time only. Positions are in *twips*, 1/1440 inch; [Text Formatting and Views](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/viewing/#measure-in-twips) explains the unit.

### Let Users Format Lists

A connected [TXButtonBar](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txbuttonbar/llms-full.txt) has buttons for bulleted, numbered and structured lists, whose positions [PosListBulleted](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txbuttonbar/poslistbulleted-property/llms-full.txt), [PosListNumbered](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txbuttonbar/poslistnumbered-property/llms-full.txt) and [PosListStructured](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txbuttonbar/posliststructured-property/llms-full.txt) set. [Button Bar, Ruler Bar and Status Bar](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/toolbars/llms-full.txt) describes the button bar.

The [ListAttrDialog](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/listattrdialog-method/llms-full.txt) method opens the built-in **Bullets and Numbering** dialog box. In it, the user chooses bullets or numbers and sets the bullet and text positions, the separating character, the level, the bullet character and its size, the number style, the start number, the text in front of and after the number and whether the numbering restarts or continues. *TXWords* opens it from **Format** > **Bullets and Numbering** > **Properties...**:

```vbscript
' Call bullets dialog
Private Sub mnuFormat_BulletsAndNumbering_Attributes_Click()
    TXTextControl1.ListAttrDialog
End Sub
```

The changes apply to the selected text. `ListAttrDialog` returns `True` when the user has changed one or more attributes and `False` when nothing has changed.

![The built-in Bullets and Numbering dialog box of TXTextControl with the list types, the positions, the bullet characters and the number format.](https://docs.textcontrol.com/assets/img/tx-text-control-activex/bullets-numbering-list.38cfc74e.webp)

### Create a Bulleted List

The **Bullets** item of the *TXWords* menu turns the selected paragraphs into a bulleted list, or back into normal paragraphs when the item is checked:

```vbscript
Private Sub mnuFormat_BulletsAndNumbering_Bullets_Click()
    If mnuFormat_BulletsAndNumbering_Bullets.Checked Then
        TXTextControl1.ListType = txListNone
    Else
        TXTextControl1.ListType = txListBulleted
    End If
End Sub
```

To use a bullet character of your own, set it before the list type:

```vbscript
With TXTextControl1
    .BulletAttribute(txBulletFont) = "Arial"
    .BulletAttribute(txBulletChar) = &H2022
    .BulletAttribute(txBulletFormatChar) = 9
    .ListType = txListBulleted
End With
```

The code works as follows:

- `txBulletFont` sets the font of the bullet character, and `txBulletChar` its Unicode character code. &H2022 is the bullet character.
- `txBulletFormatChar` sets the gap between the bullet and the text: 9 places the text at the next tab, 32 separates it with a space and 0 lets it follow the bullet directly.
- Setting `ListType` last makes the new attributes take effect.

`txBulletPos` and `txBulletTextPos` set the positions of the bullet and of the text in twips, and `txBulletSize` sets the size of the bullet character. With a `txBulletSize` of -1, the bullet has the font size of the text that follows it. The bullet font and bullet characters outside the Windows Symbol font are available since version 23.0.

### Create a Numbered List

The *TXWords* menu has an item for each number format. The items form a control array whose `Index` is the format code, so one procedure handles all of them:

```vbscript
' Select symbol for numbered lists
Private Sub mnuFormat_BulletsAndNumbering_Symbols_Click(Index As Integer)
    If mnuFormat_BulletsAndNumbering_Symbols(Index).Checked Then
        TXTextControl1.ListType = txListNone
    Else
        TXTextControl1.NumberingAttribute(txNumberingFormat) = Index
        TXTextControl1.ListType = txListNumbered
    End If
End Sub
```

The code sets the number format with `txNumberingFormat` and then the list type. These are the format codes:

| Code | Numbers | *TXWords* menu item |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Arabic numbers | **1, 2, 3** |
| 4 | Small letters | **a, b, c** |
| 5 | Capital letters | **A, B, C** |
| 6 | Roman numbers | **I, II, III, IV** |
| 7 | Small Roman numbers | **i, ii, iii, iv** |

![The Bullets and Numbering submenu of the TXWords Format menu with Properties, Increase Level, Decrease Level, the five number formats and Bullets.](https://docs.textcontrol.com/assets/img/tx-text-control-activex/bullets-numbering-menu.bf73ab48.webp)

#### Add Text Around the Numbers

`txNumberingPreText` and `txNumberingPostText` set up to 20 characters in front of and behind each number, and `txNumberingStart` sets the first number. The following code creates a list that counts *Step 1:*, *Step 2:* and so on:

```vbscript
With TXTextControl1
    .NumberingAttribute(txNumberingFormat) = 3
    .NumberingAttribute(txNumberingPreText) = "Step "
    .NumberingAttribute(txNumberingPostText) = ":"
    .NumberingAttribute(txNumberingStart) = 1
    .ListType = txListNumbered
End With
```

The older attributes `txNumberingPreChar` and `txNumberingPostChar` allow a single character only. They are obsolete; use the text attributes instead.

`txNumberingPos` and `txNumberingTextPos` set the positions of the number and of the text in twips, and `txNumberingFormatChar` sets the gap after the number with the same codes as `txBulletFormatChar`.

#### Restart or Continue the Numbering

For a paragraph of a numbered list, the `txNumberingReStart` attribute begins a new list, which starts with the number that `txNumberingStart` gives, and `txNumberingContinue` continues the list. In the **Bullets and Numbering** dialog box, the user chooses **Restart numbering** or **Continue list**.

### Create a Structured List

A structured list shows, for each level, its own number together with the numbers of the higher levels. The text in front of and behind the numbers is shown for all higher levels as well. Set `ListType` to `txListStructured` to create one:

```vbscript
TXTextControl1.NumberingAttribute(txNumberingFormat) = 3
TXTextControl1.ListType = txListStructured
```

A structured list uses the attributes of `NumberingAttribute`. Structured lists are available since version 15.0, as [Version 15.0](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/whats-new/older-versions/1500/llms-full.txt) lists.

![A structured list in TXTextControl with the numbers 1., 1.1., 1.2., 1.2.1., 1.2.2. and 1.2.2.1. on four levels.](https://docs.textcontrol.com/assets/img/tx-text-control-activex/structured-list-document.be966b34.webp)

### Change the List Level

The **Increase Level** item of the *TXWords* menu raises the level of the selected list paragraphs by one:

```vbscript
' Increase list indent level
Private Sub mnuFormat_BulletsAndNumbering_IncreaseLevel_Click()
    With TXTextControl1
        If .ListType = txListBulleted Then
            .BulletAttribute(txBulletLevel) = .BulletAttribute(txBulletLevel) + 1
        ElseIf (.ListType = txListNumbered) Or (.ListType = txListStructured) Then
            .NumberingAttribute(txNumberingLevel) = .NumberingAttribute(txNumberingLevel) + 1
        End If
        .ListType = .ListType
        .IncreaseIndent
    End With
End Sub
```

The code works as follows:

- For a bulleted list, it raises `txBulletLevel`. For a numbered or structured list, it raises `txNumberingLevel`.
- `.ListType = .ListType` sets the list type again, which makes the new level take effect.
- [IncreaseIndent](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/increaseindent-method/llms-full.txt) moves the left indent of the paragraphs to the next indent position.

The **Decrease Level** item does the same with `- 1` and [DecreaseIndent](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/decreaseindent-method/llms-full.txt). *TXWords* enables it only when the level is 2 or higher.

### Show the List State in a Menu

When the **Bullets and Numbering** menu opens, *TXWords* reads the list type at the input position, the position of the caret, and checks the matching menu item. This is a shortened version of its code:

```vbscript
With TXTextControl1
    If .ListType = txListBulleted Then
        mnuFormat_BulletsAndNumbering_Bullets.Checked = True
    ElseIf (.ListType = txListNumbered) Or (.ListType = txListStructured) Then
        mnuFormat_BulletsAndNumbering_Symbols( _
            .NumberingAttribute(txNumberingFormat)).Checked = True
    End If
End With
```

The same menu handler enables the level items only in a list, and *TXWords* disables the whole **Bullets and Numbering** menu when [CanParagraphFormat](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/canparagraphformat-property/llms-full.txt) is `False`, for example in a protected document.

### Remove a List

Set `ListType` to `txListNone` to turn list paragraphs back into normal paragraphs:

```vbscript
TXTextControl1.ListType = txListNone
```

### Use Lists in Styles

The [Style](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/style/llms-full.txt) object has the properties [ListType](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/style/listtype-property/llms-full.txt), [BulletAttribute](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/style/bulletattribute-property/llms-full.txt) and [NumberingAttribute](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/style/numberingattribute-property/llms-full.txt) with the same values, so a paragraph-based style can carry a list. Its bullet and numbering attributes have an effect only when the style's `ListType` has been set to a matching list type. In the style dialog box, the **Numbering...** button sets them. [Stylesheets](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/stylesheets/llms-full.txt) describes styles.

### Key Members

| Member | Description |
|---|---|
| [ListType](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/listtype-property/llms-full.txt) | Sets the list type of the selected paragraphs: none, bulleted, numbered or structured. |
| [BulletAttribute](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/bulletattribute-property/llms-full.txt) | Sets the bullet character, its font and size, the level and the positions of bulleted lists. |
| [NumberingAttribute](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/numberingattribute-property/llms-full.txt) | Sets the number format, the start number, the text around the numbers, the level and the positions of numbered lists. |
| [ListAttrDialog](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/listattrdialog-method/llms-full.txt) | Opens the built-in **Bullets and Numbering** dialog box. |
| [IncreaseIndent](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/increaseindent-method/llms-full.txt), [DecreaseIndent](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/txtextcontrol/decreaseindent-method/llms-full.txt) | Move the left indent of the selected paragraphs to the next or previous position. |

The programming category [Bullets and Numbered Lists](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/reference/categories/lists/llms-full.txt) lists all members for lists.

### Related Pages

- [Character and Paragraph Formatting](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/formatting/llms-full.txt): indents, tabs and the other paragraph attributes.
- [Stylesheets](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/stylesheets/llms-full.txt): paragraph styles that carry list settings.
- [Button Bar, Ruler Bar and Status Bar](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/toolbars/llms-full.txt): the list buttons of the button bar.
- [Built-in Dialog Boxes](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/dialog-boxes/llms-full.txt): every dialog box that one method call opens.

---

## Nearby

- **Previous:** [Stylesheets](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/stylesheets/llms-full.txt)
- **Next:** [Sections and Page Setup](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-activex/document-editor/sections/llms-full.txt)