Help:How to use lists in Directory entries

From SN Guides

Introduction

There will be many occasions whilst writing SN Directory entries when you will need to include lists of various types.

For example you may wish to include things like:

• Data about a ship
• References
• Key events
• Names

Getting numbers or bullet points to line up can be fiddly; this page will explain how to do this the easy way.

Including bulleted lists

The introduction section contains a bulleted list. Including this was very easy - each entry was preceded with the * character and the rest was done by the software.

The entry looked like this on the editing screen:

    *Data about a ship
    *References
    *Key events
    *Names 

Including numbered lists

Numbered lists are just as easy. In this case you just precede each item on the list with the # character and the rest is done by the software.

Here is an example:

1. Roger the cabin boy
2. Master Bates
3. Captain Pugwash

The entry looked like this on the editing screen:

    #Roger the cabin boy
    #Master Bates
    #Captain Pugwash

Additional formatting in lists

Using Bold typeface

Bulleted lists of data look better if they are in a form such as this:

• Length: 530 ft
• Breadth: 63 ft
• Draft: 33 ft

This has been achieved by using Bold typeface for the name of the property and normal typeface for the value of the property. You do this by selecting the text you want to appear in bold using the mouse and clicking the Bold button on the editor toolbar - button 1 as shown in the image below.

The entry looked like this on the editing screen:

    *'''Length:''' 530 ft
    *'''Breadth:''' 63 ft
    *'''Draft:''' 33 ft 

Using two levels of bullets in lists

Here is an example of a list using two levels of bullets:

• Ford Fiestas come in these colours:
  • Red
  • Blue
  • Green
• Ford Fusions come in these colours:
  • Brown
  • Orange
  • Puce

This is also very easy - you just use two ** characters for the second-level items.

The above entry looked like this on the editing screen:

    *Ford Fiestas come in these colours:
    **Red
    **Blue
    **Green
    *Ford Fusions come in these colours:
    **Brown
    **Orange
    **Puce

Using two levels of numbering in a list

The approach is the same as for two-level bulleted lists except that you use two ## characters:

1. Lancashire
   1. Preston
   2. Blackpool
2. Yorkshire
   1. Malton
   2. Leeds

The above entry looked like this on the editing screen:

    #Lancashire
    ##Preston 
    ##Blackpool
    #Yorkshire
    ##Malton
    ##Leeds

Using numbers and bullets together

There are occasions where a mixture of numbers and bullets are required.

This time the # character is used to denote an item just to have a number and #* to show that this item is a bullet item.

1. Fish
   • Halibut
   • Cod
   • Mackerel
2. Foul
   • Deep-fried Mars bars
   • Mushy peas
   • Pukka pies

The above entry looked like this on the editing screen:

    #Fish
    #*Halibut
    #*Cod
    #*Mackerel
    #Foul
    #*Deep-fried Mars bars
    #*Mushy peas
    #*Pukka pies

Taking it further

If you want to do something more complex you are welcome to check out the Help page issued with the software but it was written by a technician and not exactly easy for a normal human being to understand. Get to it Here

Gotchas

1. The numbering got to three then restarted again
   • This has most likely happened because you have interrupted the list by trying to include blank lines between items. Keep it simple - remove any blank lines and try again
   • Consider using a mixture of numbers and bullets (as used here and described above)
2. I have applied Bold formatting in a list but it doesn't work right and I have got strange characters appearing
   • Make sure when you are selecting the items to be shown in Bold you have not included any * or # characters. If you did, delete the formatting characters inserted by the software, re-apply them and try again.