WD: How to Change the Default Bullet in Word 6.0 or 7.0

ID: Q145440

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Word, you may be unable to change the default bullets on the Bulleted tab. (To access the Bulleted tab, click Bullets And Numbering on the Format menu.)

The "Workaround" section of this article describes two methods for creating a different default bullet format in Word, and how to assign the new default bullet to a toolbar button for easy use.


WORKAROUND

To create a new toolbar button that will insert the desired bullet character, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Use the ListBullet style

To modify the List Bullet style and create a toolbar button that you can use to apply the bulleted style to text in your document, follow these steps:
  1. On the Format menu, click Style.


  2. Under List, click All Styles.


  3. In the Styles list box, click to select List Bullet and then click Modify.


  4. In the Modify Style dialog box, click Format, and then click Numbering.


  5. On the Bulleted tab, click Modify.


  6. In the Modify Bulleted List dialog box, click to select the desired bullet character, make any other desired changes (for example: Point Size, Color, or Bullet Position) and then click OK.

    NOTE: Click the Bullet button to change to a different bullet character.


  7. In the Modify Style dialog box, click to select the Add To Template check box, and then click OK.


  8. In the Style dialog box, click Close.


  9. On the Tools menu, click Customize.


  10. On the Toolbars tab, under Categories, click to select Styles.

    NOTE: A Styles box will now be available on the Toolbars tab.


  11. Under Styles, click to select List Bullet and then drag List Bullet to the toolbar and drop the new blank button in the desired toolbar location.


  12. In the Custom Button dialog box, click to select the desired button face, and then click Assign.


  13. In the Customize dialog box, click Close.


When you click the button on your toolbar, the desired bullet style will be applied to the selected text.

Method 2: Create a Macro

  1. On the Tools menu, click Macro.


  2. Type a name for your new macro in the Macro Name box (for example, type MyBullet).

    The Macros Available In box should show All Active Templates.


  3. Click the Record button.


  4. In the Record Macro dialog box, under Assign Macro To, click Toolbars.


  5. In the Customize dialog box, on the Toolbars tab, click to select and then drag the macro (MyBullet or your macro name) to the toolbar and drop the new blank button in the desired toolbar location.


  6. In the Custom Button dialog box, click to select the desired button face, and then click Assign.


  7. In the Customize dialog box, click Close.

    The Macro Recorder toolbar should now appear and you can start recording your macro using the following steps:


  8. On the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering.


  9. Click to select the desired bullet, and then click OK.

    NOTE: Click Modify to change the desired bullet, symbol, or point size.


  10. On the Macro Recorder toolbar, click Stop to stop the recording of the macro.


You now have a new button on your toolbar that will use the bullet format.


STATUS

This behavior was changed in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. In Microsoft Word 97 for Windows, you can modify the bullet styles.


MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q94848 WD: Change to ToolsBulletsNumbers Not Reflected in Dialog Box

Additional query words: bullets changing character default formatting how to list modify macro style and Numbering 6.x 7.x

Keywords : kbusage winword kbformat
Version : WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: January 3, 2000
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