How to change the default bullet

[hwtan]

Is there any way to change the default bullet in writer? Whenever I click the bullet button I get a rectangle as bullet. Any help out there?

[The Liquidator]

Sounds like a possible font issue.

Please can you state OOo version, your OS and version and the font that writer is using when this happens.

Ian

[Guest]

I have the issue. I seems to happen on OO 1.1 between the Win98 version and the XP version. Haven't looked for it yet in 1.1.0

buggy_code

[kamote]

' guess, what our friend meant is the default style of bullet in the selection window(?)
Format > Numbering/Bullets > Bullet Tab

that's my problem too.

[hwtan]

I am refering to the default button created by the bullet icon on the text object bar. I guess it is related to the selection window mentioned by karnote. I am using win98SE with OOo 1.1.

[JohnV]

I don't think anyone knows how to do this. You might be happier if you simply replaced the bullets icon with the Edit Numbering icon. This gives you the same dialog as Format > Numbering/Bullets and is a quick way to get what you want. Right click the bar, choose Configure and find it on the left in the Numbering folder.

[kohlerj]

I am also all of a sudden getting blocks (like undefined characters that you see in Character Map) instead of the default bullets. In Format|Numbering/Bullets the blocks also appear in the first selection, and in the outiline numbering.

I also thought it might be a font problem. Does anyone know which font and character is used by default for the round bullets. It lookes like the bullets style seems to be looking for StarSymbol font. This might be the problem since it is not listed... where can I get the font file?

I'm using Win98SE, OOO 1.1.0.

[hwtan]

Yes, while it can be a font problem, but can we change the default font for bullet anyway?

[fjuk]

Well I have the same problem on my portable computer (Windows ME), but not on my stationary (Windows XP).
Reinstalling both OO and Java had no effect, as did not copying the 'user' folder from the XP-machine to the portable.

However: Changing the standard bullet somehow does the trick, but causes other problems:
Tools => AutoCorrect/AutoFormat... => Options, and then select the 'Apply numbering - symbol (will be '´' on Windows XP and '[' on Windows ME - probably the cause of the problem). Chose 'edit' and select whatever you please.
Do the same with 'Replace Bullets with:' option.

This enables the bullet to be what you define. However:
1) When you use the '*'-key and types text after one space, it will be whatever defined above. But using the '-'-key in the same manner should enable a list starting with the '-' caracter. In stead the all too well known box appears.
2) When writing after defining the bullet as mentioned above, you may not be able to mark the text (e.g. by holding shift /left mouse button down) on the bulleted text... STRANGE!

But when opening the text in e.g. MS Word, all lists will work perfectly (However not when you print ).

Conclusion: It's actually possible to fix half of the problem, but it will not run optimal, unless a Windows XP (or 2000 I guess) machine is used...

[42]

[ftack]

I'd wish that the Numbering/Bullet button would apply a numbering style. Clicking a small triangle on that button would allow you to specify what numbering style it should apply ...

[mf33]

This is caused by the StarSymbol font missing from the Windows installs. Usually this font is provided in StarOffice. This bug has been reported here:
http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=19105

There is a possible solution described in chapter 9 of "Taming OpenOffice.org Writer":
http://www.taming-openoffice-org.com/writer/towtoc1-1.htm

The bug report mentions another possible solution: