4 Replies Latest reply: May 23, 2011 10:00 AM by E Diane King RSS

    Number list alignment

    E Diane King Community Member

      I'm trying to align the numbers in a numbered list to the right since I'm going up to 10 and I want the numbers lined up on the period. The numbers don't budge no matter what I select under the alignment options for the bullets and numbering. I've tried adding more space for the tab, but no go, I've tried changing the font, putting the list in a new document, setting the options as a style and doing it manually, and the numbers stay aligned to the left. I'm in CS5, does this option actually work, or am I misunderstanding the feature or doing something wrong?  It seems like right align should make the numbers move to align on the right of the space provided, but maybe I'm not understanding the purpose of the option.

        • 1. Re: Number list alignment
          peter at knowhowpro Community Member

          E Diane King wrote:

           

          I'm trying to align the numbers in a numbered list to the right since I'm going up to 10 and I want the numbers lined up on the period. The numbers don't budge no matter what I select under the alignment options for the bullets and numbering. I've tried adding more space for the tab, but no go, I've tried changing the font, putting the list in a new document, setting the options as a style and doing it manually, and the numbers stay aligned to the left. I'm in CS5, does this option actually work, or am I misunderstanding the feature or doing something wrong?  It seems like right align should make the numbers move to align on the right of the space provided, but maybe I'm not understanding the purpose of the option.

          Yes, it's possible. Depending on exactly what you want, you'll need a decimal-aligned tab stop and perhaps another tab stop or two. Search Google for terms like "InDesign hanging punctuation in numbered lists," and "InDesign align numbered lists" without quotes for past discussions and tips on this topic.

           

          HTH

           

          Regards,

           

          Peter

          _______________________

          Peter Gold

          KnowHow ProServices

          • 2. Re: Number list alignment
            E Diane King Community Member

            So what is the align option for? I understand what you're saying about manually aligning a list, I've done that before, but I thought the align feature in the auto list was supposed to do that automatically. As far as I can tell, the align options (left, right, and center) in the bullets and numbering dialog don't do anything. There doesn't seem to be a way to edit the tabs under that feature either. Are you saying you have to create the tabs and that the auto numbering will then use them?  If that's the case, it needs to say that somewhere in help, because I looked the feature up and all it says is that you can align your numbers and bullets using align as long as there is sufficient space.

            • 3. Re: Number list alignment
              P Spier CommunityMVP

              I don't think the other Peter gave you the best answer, here. The alignment for the numbers only works in conjunction with the left indent value in the next field below. If you add enough left indent to the paragraph so that there is space for the numbers to shift to the right you'll see the alignment come into play. If you've got a negative first line indent, that will also affect the appearance.

              • 4. Re: Number list alignment
                E Diane King Community Member

                Thanks Peter! That reply helped me figure out what I was doing wrong. Definitely user error. The hanging indent needed to come out from the far left to leave room for the alignment. Makes perfect sense now. Thanks again.