In many placeholder text boxes, Keynote provides preformatted bullet styles that match the theme you’re using, but you can change them.

You can also change bullets to numbers and vice versa. Or remove preformatted bullets from text. By default, free text boxes have no bullets or numbering, but you can add bullets or numbering to any text. Adding, removing, and changing the type of bullets or numbering is done in the Text inspector.

First you must select some paragraphs or a text box containing the paragraphs for which you want to add or change bullets and numbering.

To add, remove, or change the bullet or numbering style of selected paragraphs:

  1. Click Inspector in the toolbar, click the Text button, and then click Bullets.

  2. Choose a bullet or numbering option from the Bullets & Numbering pop-up menu, and then make any necessary adjustments:

    • No Bullets:  
      Removes all bullets and formats the paragraphs as plain text.
    • Text Bullets:  
      Lets you use any typed character as a bullet. Select a character from the list in the pop-up menu or type a new character in the field. To change the bullet’s color, click the color well and drag a color from the Colors window back to the color well. To change the bullet size relative to the text, specify a percentage of its original size in the Size field, or select the “Scale with text” checkbox and specify a percentage of the text size; this option maintains the image-to-text size ratio of the bullets even if you later change the font size of the text.
    • Image Bullets:  
      Uses an image (for example, a pushpin or a fleuron) as a bullet. Select one from the list. To change the bullet size relative to the text, specify a percentage of its original size in the Size field, or select the “Scale with text” checkbox and specify a percentage of the text size; this option maintains the image-to-text size ratio of the bullets even if you later change the font size of the text.
    • Custom Image:  
      Lets you use your own image as a bullet. Locate the image you want in the Open window, and then click Open. To change the bullet size relative to the text, specify a percentage of its original size in the Size field, or select the “Scale with text” checkbox and specify a percentage of the text size; this option maintains the image-to-text size ratio of the bullets even if you later change the font size of the text.
    • Numbers:  
      Creates a numbered list. Choose a numbering style (for example, Roman or Arabic numerals) from the pop-up menu. To continue a previous list, select “Continue from Previous.” Otherwise select “Start at” and type a number in the field.
    • Tiered Numbers:  
      Creates a hierarchical numbered list. Choose a numbering style (for example, Roman or Arabic numerals) from the pop-up menu. To continue a previous list, select “Continue from Previous.” Otherwise select “Start at” and type a number in the field.

  3. If you want subordinate points in your list to have a different numbering (or bullet) style—this is usually the case with tiered (hierarchical) lists—click the Indent Level button to the next level and then select a new numbering style (or bullet style). Repeat this for each indent level you want to set for your list hierarchy.

  4. To adjust the space between bullets or numbers and the left margin, specify a value in the Bullet Indent or Number Indent field.

  5. To adjust the space between bullets or numbers and their text, specify a value in the Text Indent field.

  6. To position bullets or numbers higher or lower relative to their text, use the Align field.

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