Numbering in Impress slides

Numbering is....not perfect.

You can do this just fine. Select your bullet points, choose Format > Numbering and Bullets, click the numbering style tab, select a number format, click OK, and you're good.

But what if you want a normal unnumbered line in the main text area, then start with a numbered list that, of course starts a one? You can't (not easily) because numbering starts on the first item in the main text area. This is what happens if you select the second and subsequent items and apply numbering.

There is one hack and one workaround.

The Hack: Offset the first line so it starts a zero.
1. Select the items you want numbered. Choose Format > Bullets and Numbering, Njumbering Type tab, select your numbering format as usual.

2. Then click the Customize tab. Select Level 1 in the level list at the left.

3. Type 0 (zero) in the Start At field.

4. Click OK. Now the unnumbered item thinks it's 0.

Can you set it farther back like -1? No.

The Workaround: Just type your numbers.

It's easier than struggling to make Impress do something it won't, and of course there are no formatting snafus if you go back and forth between Impress and Powerpoint.

The Other Workaround: Does it really need to be a numbered list?

If not, use bullets.

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Comments

[CPBJ]

I have used some of these tips and they worked pretty well for me. I am glad I stumbled onto this blog of yours.( http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/ )

[Bob Dowling]

I've been a lurker here for a bit and mostly it's very useful stuff, but I have to say that I disagree entirely with this tip.

OK, now that I've got that out of my system, let me be constructive.

You are assuming that the user is starting from the Title+Text template. My first recommendation to everyone producing slides is to always start with a blank template or at worst the one with title only. Add your own objects as you need them and don't be constrained by the list of layouts on the right hand side.

If you want a block of unnumbered text above a block that is numbered have two different blocks of text. Select numbering in one and not in the other.

I've been writing a few courses in Impress. My content improved dramatically when I discarded the defaults and set myself the challenge of "no bullet lists". I'm still working on making them better, which is one of the reasons I'm here.

ps: Thanks for a great blog.

[Solveig]

Hi Bob,

Sounds like you've definitely been using Impress a lot! I see your point -- however, a lot of folks do have to use pre-existing templates -- corporate rules -- and don't have as much flexibility. You also lose the benefit of master page/background formatting since the master page doesn't affect text boxes. You can use styles for your text box content but that means applying the formatting each time, sometimes having to import the styles using File > Templates > Organize and Ctrl-dragging them one at a time, etc.

It's definitely workable to use text boxes but it's a different way of working.

Solveig

[Peter Kluppels]

I am used to working in indesign. God only knows why I‘m beeing asked to make a powerpoint presentation on types of print. I don't own a pc and I surely do not own a Microsoft office suite. But let‘s not dwell on that. From my experience with Ind, comes this question: Where is the 1.1, 1.2, 1.2.3 etc… option? Or even 1.a and so on. I know I can in Ind. So, how about Impress?

[Solveig]

Hi Peter,

Irony noted!

Impress doesn't have the ability to have 1.1.1, 1.1.2, etc. -- just one level of numbering can be shown per line. (Writer has it, but Impress doesn't.)

To customize number formats (sometimes they're too small) choose Format > Bullets and Numbering, Customize tab, and edit the Relative Size field.

[Peter Kluppels]

As i feared,

thanks nonetheless.

Nice blog btw.

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