Help:Lists

The MediaWiki software allows users to use two different styles of lists - unordered, and ordered (or, bullet-point and numbered, respectively). These two styles of lists are manipulated in exactly the same way on the editing page.

List basics
To create a bulletted list, start the line with a "*". So:

* This is a list * This is part of the same list * As is this!

becomes:


 * This is a list
 * This is part of the same list
 * As is this!

Numbered lists are just as easy. Instead of starting the line with a "*", instead start with a "#". So:


 * 1) I'm number one!
 * 2) I'm number two!
 * 3) I'm number three!

becomes:


 * 1) I'm number one!
 * 2) I'm number two!
 * 3) I'm number three!

A list ends when a line that starts without a list character is found. So:

No List
 * 1) List 1
 * 2) List 1
 * 1) List 2

becomes:

No List
 * 1) List 1
 * 2) List 1
 * 1) List 2

Multi-leveled Lists
Adding more levels to a list is simple - just add another list character to the front. So:

* List Level 1 ** List Level 2 *** List Level 3 ** List Level 2 * List Level 1

becomes:


 * List Level 1
 * List Level 2
 * List Level 3
 * List Level 2
 * List Level 1

This works with both styles of list:


 * 1) List Level 1
 * 2) List Level 2
 * 3) List Level 3
 * 4) List Level 2
 * 5) List Level 1

becomes:


 * 1) List Level 1
 * 2) List Level 2
 * 3) List Level 3
 * 4) List Level 2
 * 5) List Level 1

Structure inside List elements
Due to the issue of lists ending on the first non-list character line, special efforts must be taken in order to build multi-paragraph and multi-element list items.

Breaking up a paragraph should be done with. This will create a new line without breaking the list. will do this as well, but is a little trickier to get right.

Sometimes an element in a list needs to consist of both a sub-list, and further text that isn't a part of the sub-list. This too is achievable, placing a colon at the correct level will allow you to continue the list element without mess. This is not a perfect solution, as the indent is not always well-aligned with the list indents.

#: Continuing List Element 1
 * 1) List Element 1
 * 2) Sub-list element 1
 * 3) Sub-list element 2


 * 1) List Element 1
 * 2) Sub-list element 1
 * 3) Sub-list element 2
 * Continuing List Element 1

* This is an example of a list element across several lines. By inserting, we can spread the list element across several lines without having to go into multiple list elements. Pretty spiffy, no? * In this example, we use paragraph markers to make multiple lines. This works just as well, but does require a little foresight, as paragraph markers need to surround the text. This, to many is not a hindrance * A ordinary ol' List element


 * This is an example of a list element across several lines. By inserting , we can spread the list element across several lines without having to go into multiple list elements. Pretty spiffy, no?
 * In this example, we use paragraph markers to make multiple lines. This works just as well, but does require a little foresight, as paragraph markers need to surround the text.  This, to many is not a hindrance
 * A ordinary ol' List element

Numbered lists across multiple columns
In some cases, it's necessary or useful to spread a numbered list across several columns (such as in a table). Wiki mark-up cannot handle this. Instead, HTML code needs to be used:

becomes:

This system, of course, does not need to be used for bullet-point lists, as number preservation isn't an issue.