Multi level list

**Aussiebear** · 05-04-2024, 06:25 PM

Greg Maxey recently published a section of code that purports to create a multi level list format on the fly. No one was able to respond at the other forum, but I was wondering if anyone here might be able to assist him. Apologies Greg, if I haven't given the correct description.

Option Explicit
'Note - change names to suit.
Private Const m_strListStyleName As String = "My ML Numbered List"
Private Const m_strStyleLevelPrefixName As String = "LL_"
'Note - change the global indent value to suit.  Value is in points e.g., half inch is 36 points.
Private Const m_lngIndent As Long = 21

Sub Create_EditMultiLevelListStyle()
Dim oListStyle As Style
Dim oStyle As Style
Dim oLL As ListLevel
Dim lngPoints As Long, lngLevelIndex As Long
Dim bRedefine As Boolean, bUpdate As Boolean
  'I created this VBA procedure because I think the built-in multilevel lists (MML) in Word look absolutely stupid.  I realize that is
  'a broad brush statement for out of 6 plus billion souls out there, some may feel the look of the MLL list this procedure creates is even worse.
  'Here we are.
  'I don't normally comment code heavily but make an exception here as I want any potential user to understand the mechanics and what is going on.
  'Trust me, some weird things go on.  Those are commented as well in hopes some smart guy or gal out there will jump in with suggestions
  'for improvement, explainaitons or fixes.
  'The primary goals of this code are to:
    'a) Produce a MML that is linked to 9 different paragraphs styles (one for each list level)
    'b) Produce a MML that has a unique list member index for each list level
    'c) Produce a MML with "lesser" indents that the built-in MML provided with Word
  bRedefine = False '***
  bUpdate = True
  On Error Resume Next
  'Get (or since it won't exist initially, create) the named list style.
  Set oListStyle = ActiveDocument.Styles(m_strListStyleName)
  If Err.Number <> 0 Then
    'If the named list style didn't exists then we create it now.
    Set oListStyle = ActiveDocument.Styles.Add(m_strListStyleName, wdStyleTypeList)
    bRedefine = True '***
    bUpdate = False
  End If
  DoEvents
ReDefineAfterCreate:
  'Initialize the indent value
  lngPoints = 0
  On Error GoTo 0
  'Define the ListTemplate associated with the list style.
  With oListStyle.ListTemplate
    For lngLevelIndex = 1 To 9
      'Global actions for all nine list levels
      Set oLL = .ListLevels(lngLevelIndex)
      oLL.Alignment = wdListLevelAlignLeft
      'Note - the value of lngPoints is increased by the value you set with the constant m_lngIndent with each iteration of the this For ... Next loop
      oLL.NumberPosition = lngPoints
      oLL.TabPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
      oLL.TrailingCharacter = wdTrailingTab
      oLL.ResetOnHigher = True
      'Link the list level to a unique paragraph style. Note - If that style doesn't exists, we create it with the error handler.
      On Error GoTo Err_Style
      Set oStyle = ActiveDocument.Styles(m_strStyleLevelPrefixName & lngLevelIndex)
      oLL.LinkedStyle = oStyle.NameLocal
      On Error GoTo 0
      Select Case lngLevelIndex
        Case 1
          'Note - for levels 1 - 3, I want my second line text to align under list member number/letter
          'To align under first character of list member text, append + m_lngIndent to .Text Position line.
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints '+ m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%1."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleArabic
        Case 2
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints  '+ m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%2."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleUppercaseLetter
        Case 3
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints '+ m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%3)"
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleArabic
        Case 4
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%4."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleLowercaseLetter
        Case 5
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%5."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleArabic
          oLL.Font.Underline = wdUnderlineSingle
        Case 6
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%6)"
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleLowercaseLetter
        Case 7
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%7]"
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleArabic
        Case 8
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%8."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleLowercaseLetter
          oLL.Font.Underline = wdUnderlineSingle
        Case 9
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
      End Select
      lngPoints = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
    Next lngLevelIndex
  End With
  '*** Here is the wierdness.
  'For whatever reason, when this procedure first creates the list style and associated linked paragraphs, the resulting linked LL_1 style paragraph assumes a mysterious
  '.25 inch hanging indent.  The only way I have found to work around this issue is to repeat ListTemplate definition steps.
  If bRedefine Then
    bRedefine = False
    GoTo ReDefineAfterCreate
  End If
  If bUpdate Then
    MsgBox "Defined changes to list and associated linked paragraph styles are completed.", vbInformation + vbOKOnly, "REPORT"
  Else
    MsgBox "This list style and associated linked paragraph styles have been created." & vbCr + vbCr _
      & "To reflect changes in the List Styles gallery please save, close and reopen the template file.", vbInformation + vbOKOnly, "REPORT"
      'Does anyone know how to force the List Styles gallery to refresh with code?
    Selection.Paragraphs(1).Style = m_strStyleLevelPrefixName & "1"
  End If
  '***
lbl_Exit:
  Exit Sub
Err_Style:
  Select Case Err.Number
    Case 5941
      'Create a unique paragraph style to serve as the linked paragraph for the indexed level.
      Set oStyle = ActiveDocument.Styles.Add(m_strStyleLevelPrefixName & lngLevelIndex, wdStyleTypeParagraph)
      oStyle.BaseStyle = "List Paragraph"
      Select Case lngLevelIndex
        Case 4 To 9
          'I specifically don't want additional white space after levels 4 through 9.  You can adjust this to suit your own taste.
          oStyle.NoSpaceBetweenParagraphsOfSameStyle = True
      End Select
    Case Else
      MsgBox Err.Number & " - " & Err.Description
  End Select
  Resume
End Sub
Sub DeleteStyleSet()
'Use this procedure to remove the list and associated linked paragraph styles.
'You should save and close the template, then reopen to reset the List Styles Gallery content.
Dim oStyle As Style
  For Each oStyle In ActiveDocument.Styles
    If Left(oStyle.NameLocal, "3") = m_strStyleLevelPrefixName Or oStyle.NameLocal = m_strListStyleName Then
      oStyle.Delete
    End If
  Next
End Sub

**June7** · 05-04-2024, 06:30 PM

Assist how? What is the issue? What 'other forum'?

**Aussiebear** · 05-04-2024, 07:55 PM

Since you are at your investigative best, Greg's words were, "something weird going on in the background". If you had tried the code and you didn't notice anything, then perhaps the code is good to go, however if you did try the code and you did notice somethings weird, perhaps you could explain....

**June7** · 05-04-2024, 09:35 PM

Some clues on how to implement this code would be useful. I don't often code in Word. I can run code from a general module. No errors trigger. I get the MsgBox popup.

Now I see a description of the "weirdness" as a comment in the code. I have no idea how to replicate the weirdness.

**Ian Crawford** · 05-05-2024, 01:36 AM

Okay Aussie, I'll try the code, but like June7 I dont code in word at all.

**Aussiebear** · 05-05-2024, 03:13 AM

Thanks Ian. No doubt it'll be something that you and I as average users will possibly not notice.

**gmaxey** · 05-05-2024, 06:15 AM

All,

The issue (or weirdness) in the original code "was" even though I had set the TextPosition of Level 1 to lngPoints (or 0) in the Select Case Case 1 section of the code, that unless I ran the set up a second time:

If bRedefine Then
  bRedefine = False
  GoTo ReDefineAfterCreate
  End If

.

... there was an unwanted .5 inch hanging indent on the level 1 paragraph. You would see that if you stetted out the code snippet above.

I took another look this morning and realized that if I initialized the .TextIndent = 0 earlier in the code then that problem disappears.

The only question now is "Is there a way to updated the ListStyles gallery after creating the ListStyle with code.? As it is, I have to save, close and reopen the document before the new list style appears in the gallery.

Here is the revised code:

Option Explicit
'Note - change names to suit.
Private Const m_strListStyleName As String = "My ML Numbered List"
Private Const m_strStyleLevelPrefixName As String = "LL_"
'Note - change the global indent value to suit.  Value is in points e.g., half inch is 36 points.
Private Const m_lngIndent As Long = 21

Sub Create_EditMultiLevelListStyle()
Dim oListStyle As Style
Dim oStyle As Style
Dim oLL As ListLevel
Dim oLL1 As ListLevel

Dim lngPoints As Long, lngLevelIndex As Long
Dim bUpdate As Boolean
  'I created this VBA procedure because I think the built-in multilevel lists (MLL) in Word look absolutely stupid.  I realize that is
  'a broad brush statement for out of 6 plus billion souls out there, some may feel the look of the MLL list this procedure creates is even worse.
  'Here we are.
  'I don't normally comment code heavily but make an exception here as I want any potential user to understand the mechanics and what is going on.
  'Perhaps some smart guy or gal out there will jump in with suggestions for improvement, explainations or fixes.
  'The primary goals of this code are to:
    'a) Produce a MML that is linked to 9 different paragraphs styles (one for each list level)
    'b) Produce a MML that has a unique list member index for each list level
    'c) Produce a MML with "lesser" indents that the built-in MML provided with Word
  bUpdate = True
  On Error Resume Next
  'Get (or since it won't exist initially, create) the named list style.
  Set oListStyle = ActiveDocument.Styles(m_strListStyleName)
  If Err.Number <> 0 Then
    'If the named list style didn't exists then we create it now.
    Set oListStyle = ActiveDocument.Styles.Add(m_strListStyleName, wdStyleTypeList)
    bUpdate = False
  End If
  DoEvents
  'Initialize the indent value
  lngPoints = 0
  On Error GoTo 0
  'Define the ListTemplate associated with the list style.
  With oListStyle.ListTemplate
    For lngLevelIndex = 1 To 9
      'Global actions for all nine list levels
      Set oLL = .ListLevels(lngLevelIndex)
      oLL.Alignment = wdListLevelAlignLeft
      'Initialized text position. The hanging indent.
      oLL.TextPosition = 0
      'Note - the value of lngPoints is increased by the value you set with the constant m_lngIndent with each iteration of the this For ... Next loop
      oLL.NumberPosition = lngPoints
      oLL.TabPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
      oLL.TrailingCharacter = wdTrailingTab
      oLL.ResetOnHigher = True
      'Link the list level to a unique paragraph style. Note - If that style doesn't exists, we create it with the error handler.
      On Error GoTo Err_Style
      Set oStyle = ActiveDocument.Styles(m_strStyleLevelPrefixName & lngLevelIndex)
      oLL.LinkedStyle = oStyle.NameLocal
      On Error GoTo 0
      Select Case lngLevelIndex
        Case 1
          'Note - for levels 1 - 3, I want my second line text to align under list member number/letter
          'To align under first character of list member text, append + m_lngIndent to .Text Position line.
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints '+ m_lngIndent
          Set oLL1 = oLL
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%1."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleArabic
        Case 2
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints  '+ m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%2."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleUppercaseLetter
        Case 3
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints '+ m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%3)"
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleArabic
        Case 4
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%4."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleLowercaseLetter
        Case 5
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%5."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleArabic
          oLL.Font.Underline = wdUnderlineSingle
        Case 6
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%6)"
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleLowercaseLetter
        Case 7
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%7]"
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleArabic
        Case 8
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
          oLL.NumberFormat = "%8."
          oLL.NumberStyle = wdListNumberStyleLowercaseLetter
          oLL.Font.Underline = wdUnderlineSingle
        Case 9
          oLL.TextPosition = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
      End Select
      lngPoints = lngPoints + m_lngIndent
    Next lngLevelIndex
  End With
  If bUpdate Then
    MsgBox "Defined changes to list and associated linked paragraph styles are completed.", vbInformation + vbOKOnly, "REPORT"
  Else
    MsgBox "This list style and associated linked paragraph styles have been created." & vbCr + vbCr _
      & "To reflect changes in the List Styles gallery please save, close and reopen the template file.", vbInformation + vbOKOnly, "REPORT"
      'Does anyone know how to force the List Styles gallery to refresh with code?
    Selection.Paragraphs(1).Style = m_strStyleLevelPrefixName & "1"
  End If
  '***
lbl_Exit:
  Exit Sub
Err_Style:
  Select Case Err.Number
    Case 5941
      'Create a unique paragraph style to serve as the linked paragraph for the indexed level.
      Set oStyle = ActiveDocument.Styles.Add(m_strStyleLevelPrefixName & lngLevelIndex, wdStyleTypeParagraph)
      oStyle.BaseStyle = "List Paragraph"
      Select Case lngLevelIndex
        Case 4 To 9
          'I specifically don't want additional white space after levels 4 through 9.  You can adjust this to suit your own taste.
          oStyle.NoSpaceBetweenParagraphsOfSameStyle = True
      End Select
    Case Else
      MsgBox Err.Number & " - " & Err.Description
  End Select
  Resume
End Sub
Sub DeleteStyleSet()
'Use this procedure to remove the list and associated linked paragraph styles.
'You should save and close the template, then reopen to reset the List Styles Gallery content.
Dim oStyle As Style
  For Each oStyle In ActiveDocument.Styles
    If Left(oStyle.NameLocal, "3") = m_strStyleLevelPrefixName Or oStyle.NameLocal = m_strListStyleName Then
      oStyle.Delete
    End If
  Next
End Sub

**gmaxey** · 05-05-2024, 06:21 AM

This is the link to the original post in the Word VBA Forum:

https://www.msofficeforums.com/word-...-list-fly.html

**gmaxey** · 05-05-2024, 06:22 AM

Ted, thanks for prodding me into taking a fiftieth look at this

. I think I have resolved the "weirdness."

**Aussiebear** · 05-05-2024, 01:12 PM

LOL... who knew a fiftieth look would do the trick.

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