Editing Wikitext/Indents and Lists

In common with word processors, Wikitext allows the use of paragraph indents and various kinds of bullet and numbered lists. The few examples below show how it is done.

Indents are broadly similar to the idea of tabs on a word processor, though they can be used only at the start of a line.

Numbered lists find use in formal listings such as legal documents, and in specifications and other texts where  paragraph reference numbers might be quoted. Bullets are much used in lists of hyperlinks, and in many summaries.

An introduction to HTML lists has been included, since this method alone allows the use of the alphabet and Roman numbers for list labels.

Indentation
Indentation means increasing a paragraph's left margin. In wikitext this TAB character is the colon. When a colon is added before the start of a paragraph, the whole paragraph will be moved in by one TAB stop. To move the paragraph further, simply add more colons. Here is the text to indent three short paragraphs:

and the result of doing so is:

Note that indents are often used in combination with other symbols such as bullets; when they used in this way the indents should be written first, then the bullets.

Lists
The table of contents found on each page is handled automatically by the software and is not accessible using the list syntax. This subject refers to user-made lists within the text.

Lists are useful for short comments and summaries and are easy to make.

Numbered Lists
To make an automatically numbered list of the first order, just add a hash symbol, sometimes called an octothorp or number sign, before each line of the list. It looks like this:

The result is this:

To add a second order of numbering to the list, give the sub-items two hash symbols. The sub-item will then indent itself beneath the level one list item that resides above it. Additional levels of listing are made by adding more hash symbols. Here is an example:

The result of this wikitext coding is:

Bullet Lists
Bullet lists are used more often than numbered lists, perhaps because they are less formal. The bullet lists make blue square bullets against each item in the list. It is done by adding an asterisk before each list item. Additional levels of listing are made by adding more asterisks. Using the same theme as above, consider the following text:

The result of this text listing is:

Since lists are made up of paragraphs, it is a simple matter to add colons for indentation before the list code to shift each list item further across the page. Colons need added to each list item for this effect.

Definition Lists
Definition lists are usefully formatted for their purpose. They have a bold heading, followed by a normal text section on the lines that follow. Their name is self explanatory, for these lists are ideal for defining terms. They can be made in both HTML and Wikitext but only the simpler wikitext version is explained here. Note that the method needs only the semi-colon and the full-colon for its effect. The following text entry shows how to make list items:

The result of this text listing is:

Note that wrapped lines are also indented.

Other Ordered Lists
Alpha and Roman lists need HTML formats. These other list types are easily made in HTML, as well as the more usual numbered lists. In addition, their starting points can be preset.

The rules for making these alternative lists are as follows:
 * Ordered lists are enclosed in the tags  .
 * Each list item must start with the tag  .
 * The list format is set as follows in the leading   tag with the type attribute. See the drop-box for examples.
 * Numbering is set with type=1; the number one.
 * Lower case alphabet is set with type=a
 * Upper case alphabet is set with type=A
 * Lower case Roman numbers are set with type=i
 * Upper case Roman numbers are set with type=I; the capital letter.
 * The start value is also set in the leading   tag, with the start attribute. See the drop-box for examples.
 * Numbered lists use the intended start integer as a value. If omitted, the default is always equivalent to the first character of the intended set, as decided by type.
 * Alpha lists use the alphabet position value; e.g. start=3 for 'c'.
 * Zero and negative start values have no meaning except for numbered lists.
 * Arbitrary list labels can be set in any   tag with the value attribute. The label must belong to the selected type.  For example, if type is for an alphabetic list, an arbitrary Roman number would be inappropriate.
 * Values are numbers representing the position in the type set; e.g. 3 for 'c' .
 * The start attribute should be omitted for this method; avoids confusion.
 * List items without values will follow-on from the previous label.

In the event that list-making adversely affects follow-on text, ensure that there is a blank line or a break tag between the two. Examples of HTML list formats can be found in the examples below.

Consider the following example. The sample code uses type=a to choose lower case alpha listing and the entry start=2 sets the starting point as the second letter of the alphabet; the letter b. When the code runs it looks like this:

HTML List Examples
With type = 1, (the number one), and start = 432 we obtain:   This is the first item for numbers starting with '432'.  This is the second item.  This is the last. 

With type = a and start = 2 we obtain:  This is the first item for lower case alpha starting with 'b'.  This is the second item.  This is the last. 

With type = A, and either start = 1 or not providing a value for start, we obtain:   This is the first item of upper case starting with A.  This is the second item.  This is the last. 

With type = i and start = 3 we obtain:  This is the first lower case roman item starting with iii.  This is the second item. <li> This is the last. </ol>

With type = I, (the capital letter eye), and start = 2 <ol type="I" start="2"> <li> This is the first uppercase roman item starting with II. <li> This is the second item. <li> This is the last. </ol>

With type = 1, (the number one), and start = -29 <ol type="1" start="-29"> <li> This is the first number starting with -29. <li> This is the second item. <li> This is the last. </ol>

With type = 1, (the number one), and start = -1 <ol type="1" start="-1"> <li> This is the first number starting with -1. <li> This is the second item. <li> This is the last. </ol>

Proper reversed lists will become a part of HTML5. See Reversed Lists.

The various listing options are easily changed, and an alternative method for simple numbering of lines can be found in Numbered Prose. Although bullet lists can be made in HTML by setting the list items in  <ul></ul>  tags instead of  <ol></ol>  tags, the rendering is likely to afford only the default bullet type instead of the three types that are theoretically possible. For a complete description of HTML lists refer to the external page Lists in HTML.