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Shortcut for bullet points in Word for Mac 2011

Anonymous
2015-01-07T17:32:31+00:00

Hello, I am using Microsoft Word for Mac 2011.

I would like to create a keyboard shortcut to create bulleted lists in Microsoft word.  In particular, I would like to do the following:

-1 keyboard shortcut to create an indented bullet point.  The only shortcut that I know about is the cntl+shift+n, which creates a bullet, but does NOT indent the bullet.

-1 keyboard shortcut to change the type of the bullet from filled in to hollowed out AND to indent the bullet even further.

-1 keyboard shortcut to use, when I'm on a line with an indented hollowed out bullet, to go back 1 indentation to a black, filled in bullet.

Do you know of any keyboard shortcuts to do this, or a way to create any?

Thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435.7K Reputation points
    2015-01-07T18:39:38+00:00

    No shortcut key assignments are required. What I understand you to be asking for is a standard part of Word's AutoFormat as You Type feature:

    • To start the bulleted list, type an asterisk (*), press either the Spacebar or the Tab key & then type your list item
    • When you then press return the line will indent, the * will change to a solid bullet & the new line will be at the same level
    • To Demote to a lower level, just press Tab after pressing return. (A different bullet character is assigned to each of 9 levels.)
    • To Promote one level use Shift+Tab or press return for each level up
    • To end the automatic bulleting press return twice after typing the last item. (Note that if you're ending the list on a demoted level you may need to press return more than twice depending on the last level used.

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  2. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435.7K Reputation points
    2016-01-11T15:56:07+00:00

    I have no idea about Shift+Control+n... it may be a Windows keystroke but in Mac Word it's assigned to a Mail Merge command. Option+8 inserts a bullet character, but it doesn't turn on automatic bullets, nor does it carry on to the next paragraph.

    In order for the asterisk to work as I described the AutoFormat As You Type option for Automatic bulleted lists must be enabled in the AutoCorrect Preferences. However, you can leave it unchecked & still use a keyboard shortcut assigned to the FormatBulletDefault command to turn on automatic bulleting.

    BTW: It's in your best interest to not tack a question onto an existing thread... especially one that's been marked as Answered. When you do, it's quite possible that your question never may be seen... I just happened upon it while looking for something else :-)

    If the existing suggestions do not work for you it's best to post a New Question of your own stating all particulars including what doesn't work as well as your complete version info for both Office & OS X.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-10T00:55:02+00:00

    Yes that's all very well Bob. I tried FormatBulletDefault, but on exit it did not reset the indent, so that the subsequent text didn't work properly.

    The problem we are all having is that, in the Customize Keyboard dialogue, there is no Insertlist command or equivalent.

    Back to square one!

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-11T00:01:35+00:00

    Hi,

    Neither the control shift n or the asterisk worked for me.  I'm using Word 2011 for Mac.  Could it be because I have auto format turned off? (I abhor it when using lists, and I type a ton of them for teaching.)

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-01-07T18:57:41+00:00

    Thank you Bob.  This is very helpful.  Is there a way to make the formatting changes that you described without having the cursor placed at the beginning of the line.  For example, if I want to change the promotion/demotion of bullets when my cursor is in the middle of a line?

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