Problems with adding bullets to text

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joao.guilhas@gmail.com - 29 Jul 2007 23:48 GMT

Sometimes, when using Word 2004, I want to add a bullets to a piece of
text or just want to start writing and want to make bullets and so I
choose the bullet button from the formatting palette, but instead of
simply adding a bullet to the place I want, it justs adds bullets to
all the text! Even selecting only a particular paragraph doesn't work,
all the text becomes bulleted!
I'm using the normal style, only changing the font and line spacing
and writing in Justified.
Why does this happen and how can I change it?!?!?
Sometimes it works if on the formatting palette, I choose a different
style from the drop box below the bullets button, but it's random,
because (not counting the different bullet types and letters and
numbers) several equal bullets points appear, don't know why...

Can anyone help me, because this is really annoying and I never had
this problem in any other Word (Windows versions).

Thanks,

João Guilherme

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Elliott Roper - 30 Jul 2007 00:18 GMT

> Sometimes, when using Word 2004, I want to add a bullets to a piece of
> text or just want to start writing and want to make bullets and so I
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> and writing in Justified.
> Why does this happen and how can I change it?!?!?

You have probably set the automatically update check box in
format » styles » modify.
Go to Word help, search for update style, select the second entry "Have
Word automatically update a style"
Read paragraph 4 and weep.

(Adding bullets updates the style)

> Sometimes it works if on the formatting palette, I choose a different
> style from the drop box below the bullets button, but it's random,
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Can anyone help me, because this is really annoying and I never had
> this problem in any other Word (Windows versions).

You have discovered the second stupidest setting in Word.
After unchecking it, Word will still come back, next time you apply
manual formatting to a normal paragraph, and ask you if you would like
to automatically update styles in future.
Unfortunately, there is no checkbox for "NO! you stupid idiot software
and don't you dare ask me again!!!"
I suspect that might have been how you got into the bullets on
everything mess.

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Clive Huggan - 30 Jul 2007 05:53 GMT

On 30/7/07 9:18 AM, in article 300720070018511318%nospam@yrl.co.uk, "Elliott
Roper" <nospam@yrl.co.uk> wrote:

>> Sometimes, when using Word 2004, I want to add a bullets to a piece of
>> text or just want to start writing and want to make bullets and so I
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> I suspect that might have been how you got into the bullets on
> everything mess.

Hello Elliott,

Could your slight irritation with this one be caused by the apparent
necessity to reach for the mouse (that dusty thing hanging over the edge of
your desk on the end of the thin cord)? Or do you recall that the vexatious
questions in the "Modify Style" dialogue box, "Update the style to reflect
recent changes?" can be answered by keying Command-u and "Reapply the
formatting of the style to the selection?" with Command-s?

Please say no to the latter question, or my life will be meaningless, O
Mouseless One...

Joao,

If anything of this interests you, take a look at pages 156 (under
"Bullets") and 103 (under "Modifying the styles only in the document you are
working on") of some notes on the way I use Word for the Mac, titled "Bend
Word to Your Will", which are available as a free download from the Word
MVPs' website (http://word.mvps.org/Mac/Bend/BendWordToYourWill.html).

[Note: "Bend Word to your will" is designed to be used electronically and
most subjects are self-contained dictionary-style entries. If you decide to
read more widely than the item I've referred to, it's important to read the
front end of the document -- especially pages 3 and 5 -- so you can select
some Word settings that will allow you to use the document effectively.]

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from North America and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================

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Elliott Roper - 30 Jul 2007 10:33 GMT

<snip>

> > You have discovered the second stupidest setting in Word.
> > After unchecking it, Word will still come back, next time you apply
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Please say no to the latter question, or my life will be meaningless, O
> Mouseless One...

Verily, I was unaware of that serendipitous shortcut pair. What is even
more amazing, is that when checking for your statement's veracity, I
was unable to modify a style or paragraph to bring that vexing box into
view.

Have I accidentally set some magic preference? Has my copy of Word
acquired sentience? Can it, Oh frabjous day!, be aware of my
ever-so-slight irritation, and be adopting a more obliging tone?

I think I shall have to lie down.

PS The dusty thing is on the floor. The Bluetooth has a much smaller k.

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Clive Huggan - 30 Jul 2007 11:22 GMT

On 30/7/07 7:33 PM, in article 300720071033050394%nospam@yrl.co.uk, "Elliott
Roper" <nospam@yrl.co.uk> wrote:

> <snip>
>>> You have discovered the second stupidest setting in Word.
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> I think I shall have to lie down.

With a good Bex... ;-)

> PS The dusty thing is on the floor. The Bluetooth has a much smaller k.

I tested it by selecting a word, emboldening, clicking in the style pop-down
menu, and hitting Return. Then the "Modify style" dialogue box came up. But
I'm not totally sure I didn't change *my" setup a long way back ...

CH
==

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Mac Forum / Applications / Word / July 2007

Problems with adding bullets to text