Bullet Points in Illustrator

[hello-there]

How to add bullet points / list formating in AI?

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/how-do-i-add-bullet-points-to-text-in-illustrator/m-p/223...

They say press option-8: I only get "{"

[Scott Falkner]

In most fonts on the Mac Option 8 produces a bullet. I don’t know what happens when you type Alt 8 on Windows. You can use the Glyphs panel.

[Monika Gause]

How is your language set up for the keyboard?

[hello-there]

OK. Got it. It's different in the German layout. However, I'm looking for a list formatting

• with a bullet point
• aligned to the left border
• with constant spacing from the bullet to the text

Is there something like that in AI?

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Not automatically.

You can use a formatting with a paragraph padding left and then a negative first line indent. And of course a TAB between the bullet and the text.

The bullet can be typed using ALT+Ü on the Mac.

[barbara_a · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately, there is no automated bulleted list in Illustrator. Take a look at this helpful tutorial:

https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-illustrator-bullet-lists/

[hello-there]

Thank you!

Reading forums I realize, people struggle with that since at least 10 years. Is there no script available to automate it?

[Test Screen Name]

It would be nice to be able to do this in Illustrator. But in case anyone is not aware of it, this sort of task (body text, structured text etc.) is easy to do in InDesign, and it is Adobe's tool for the job. It is usually simple to design the non-text elements in Illustrator and place that into InDesign to add the structured and body text. 

[hello-there]

If you do print, yes. But not if you prepare dozens of slides for Premiere and After Effects. Unfortunately PP&AE don't read ID. Exporting from ID to anything isn't a workflow. We pay tons of money for CC because those programs (are supposed to) work together.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

You can add your vote here (looks like you are not alone):

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/31756594-bu...

[hello-there]

Thank you!

[pixxxelschubser]

Hi,

@hello-there wrote: "… Is there no script available to automate it?"

Not that I know.

But that should not be to complicated (depend on your requirements).

Select an areatext textframe and run this (quick and dirty written) snippet:

// tabulator_BulletList_textArea.jsx
// required: selected areatext textframe (with sample text, one or more paragraphs)

// that snippet will insert a bullet point and leading tab in every paragraph of the selected areatext textframe
// https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/bullet-points-in-illustrator/td-p/11206343?page=1
// Bullet Points in Illustrator 
// regards pixxxel_schubser 14.Juni 2020

create_BulletList ();

function create_BulletList () {
try {
var aDoc = app.activeDocument;
var aSel = selection[0];

if (aSel.typename != "TextFrame" || aSel.kind != TextType.AREATEXT) {
    alert ("wrong selection");
    return;
    }
} catch (e) {
    alert ("wrong selection");
    return;
    }

    var thePara = aSel.paragraphs;
    var p = null;
    var t = new Array();
    t[0] = new TabStopInfo;
    t[0].position = 20;

    for ( i=0; i<thePara.length; i++ ) {
        p = thePara[i];
        p.contents = "\u2022\t"+p.contents;
        p.tabStops = t;
        }
    return;
}

You can still do a lots of improvements - but for the beginning …

Before:

After:

If that works for you

have fun

😉

[pixxxelschubser]

@hello-there

???

[barbara_a]

By any chance, is your Num Lock key on?

[hello-there]

Your script is amazing. I appreciate it very much. Unfortunately, I get the syntax error 8, Line 1, -> PK.

[pixxxelschubser]

That's strange.

Line #1 is only a comment. That line does nothing.

[pixxxelschubser]

@hello-there,

could you please show me a screenshot of the code (in your editor) - and a screenshot of the error message?

And additionally a screenshot of your AI file with selected text object and visible "hidden characters"?

[williamb21511271]

In Illustrator I am getting bullets when I do not want them.

When I format using the Text ruler, when I type a dash it's turning the bullet feature on.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

In Illustrator I am getting bullets when I do not want them.

When I format using the Text ruler, when I type a dash it's turning the bullet feature on.

By @williamb21511271

This thread discusses the exact opposite. You might want to read about the new feature here: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/bullets-numbering.html

To turn it off, Check out Preferences > Type. You will find it there.