Working with lists in tables and elsewhere

You can create numbered or unnumbered lists in any provision, a table cell, or an SI Explanatory Note.

These lists are separate from the numbered provisions that make up the main body of your document and should be used within those provisions when you need a more flexible structure than allowed within the normal provision structure.

Quick Reference: Common Actions

Lists in table cells

To help make table content clearer and easier to read, lists are presented slightly differently within table cells:

• List content in table cells is left-aligned (rather than justified, as it is in normal provisions), reflecting the fact that table cells are often not very wide and so not suitable for justified text.

• the indent between each level is slightly reduced to allow extra content to appear within narrow columns.

Using lists is now the preferred way to create structured content in table cells. If your document was created before version 20 was released, it may contain tables cells with structured content based on schedule provision elements. While this will still be processed, we recommend recreating the table using the new list model if you can. Contact Support if you need help (Support and Lawmaker support portal)

Lists in the Explanatory Note

Lists can be used in the Explanatory note to create both bullet lists and numbered lists like (a), (b), (c).

As a result, there is no longer a separate “Paragraph (a)” option available in the CCA.

Lists within provisions

You can create lists within provisions, e.g. within subsections or paragraphs. The default style is an unnumbered list but you can also select numbered lists.

Lists should not be used where the standard named provision types would be appropriate but enable greater flexibility unusual structures need to be created.

As a result of extending the list functionality, there is no longer a separate “Unnumbered Paragraph” option in the CCA. Use a list, with nested sub-lists if necessary, to create the equivalent provision.

Inserting a List

To insert a list in a table cell, provision or within the Explanatory Note:

1. Place your cursor where you want the list

2. Press Enter to open the Content Completion Assistant (CCA)

3. Select List

4. Choose a list style (e.g. (1), (a), •, —, or no numbering)

5. Click Select

Adding Items to a List

To add a new item to an existing list:

1. Place your cursor on a list item

2. Press Enter

3. Select Item from the CCA

A new item will be inserted below the current one.

Creating a Sub-list (Nested List)

To insert a sub-list within a list item:

1. Place your cursor in the list item

2. Press Enter and select List

3. Choose the desired style and click Insert

A nested list will appear below the current item.

You can nest lists as deeply as needed.

Continuing a Top-Level List After a sub-list

Let’s say you’ve created a list like this:

(1) First item 

(2) Second item 

(3) Third item 

  (a) Sub-item one 

  (b) Sub-item two

Now you want to add a new item (e.g. (4)) at the same level as (1), (2), and (3) - not as another sub-item. Here's how to do it:

Option 1: From the last top-level item

1. Place your cursor in the number element of the last top-level item (e.g. “(3)”)

2. Press Enter and select Item from the CCA

A new item (e.g. “(4)”) will be inserted after the sub-list, at the same level of the top list/.

Option 2: From the last sub-item

1. Place your cursor in the last sub-list item (e.g. “(b)”)

2. Press Enter and select Item from the CCA

3. Right-click the new sub item and select Promote Element (or press ALT + [)

4. The item will move up to the top level (e.g. it will become item “(4)”)

Think of it like this: you're “promoting” the item from being part of the sub-list to being part of the main list.

Inserting an Item at the Beginning of a List

To insert an item before the first existing list item:

1. Place your cursor in the introductory sentence (ensure Opening words is highlighted in breadcrumbs)

2. Press Enter and select Item

A new item will be inserted at the beginning of the list.

This method only works if the list has an introductory sentence.
If your cursor is in the first list item and there’s no introductory sentence, selecting Item will insert a new item below, not above.

Creating Back-to-Back Lists with Introductory Text

If you want to insert two or more separate lists, each with its own introductory sentence. For example:

This is an introductory sentence 

(1) First item 

(2) Second item 

(3) Third item

 Now you want to follow this with another list like:

This is a second introductory sentence 

(1) First item of second list 

(2) Second item of second list 

Steps:

1. Place your cursor in the last item of the first list

2. Press Enter and select Paragraph from the CCA

3. Type your new introductory sentence

4. Press Enter again and select List

5. Choose your desired list style and click Insert

You now have two separate lists, each with its own introductory text.

Changing the Numbering Style

To change the numbering style of an existing list:

1. Place your cursor in any item of the list

2. Right-click and select Update List Style

3. Choose a new style and click Select

The list will update to the new style.

You can also manually edit a list number if the desired style isn’t available.

Renumbering Items and Lists

Numbering within lists behaves in a similar way to numbering of normal provisions and the same features in terms of auto-renumber, renumber and locking apply.

Renumbering an Item

Lawmaker automatically renumbers new items based on the previous (and sometimes next) item:

• Bullet list → new item gets a bullet

• Numerical list starting with (1) → next item becomes (2)

• Alphabetical list starting with (a) → next item becomes (b)
  ...and so on.

Renumbering a Whole List

Lawmaker intelligently renumbers lists based on the selected style and your auto-renumbering settings.

• The first item’s number is treated as “locked”

• All following items are renumbered relative to it

• This ensures correct numbering even in complex lists with sub-lists

Promoting and Demoting Items

List items can be promoted or demoted just like provisions:

• Promote Element moves an item up a level (e.g. from sub-list to top-level/main list)

• Demote Element moves an item down a level (e.g. into a sub-list)

Use the Context Menu by right-clicking on a list item and selecting ‘Promote Element’ or ‘Demote Element’, or keyboard shortcuts to move elements up (ALT + [) or down (ALT + ]) a level.

Not all items can be promoted or demoted. Whether an item can move depends on its position in the list and the structure around it.

See Promoting and demoting provisions for more detail on promoting and demoting provisions.

When promotion works

• First item in a top level list à becomes introductory text (“Opening words”)

• Last item in a top level list (not followed by a sub-list)→ becomes a paragraph after the list

• First item in a nested list → becomes a new item in the main list

• Middle or last item in a nested list → becomes a new item in the main list, and the remaining nested items adjust accordingly

• Only item in a nested list → becomes a main list item

When promotion doesn’t work

• Middle item in a top level list → cannot be promoted

When demotion works

• Middle or last item in a main list (not followed by a sub-list) → becomes a nested item under the previous item

• Middle item in a nested list → becomes a deeper nested item (e.g. from (a) to (i))

When demotion doesn’t work

• First item in a main list → cannot be demoted

• First item in a nested list → cannot be demoted

• Only item in a list or sub-list → cannot be demoted

Promotion and Demotion Rules Summary