how to create nested list?

[SaulHormazabal]

exemple:

• item 1
• item 2
  • item 2.1
  • item 2.2
    • item 2.2.1
    • item 2.2.2

link: ooxml numbering

[scanny]

You can achieve this using styles such as List Number, List Number 2, etc. If the built-in ones don't suit you can customize your own.

The problem arises when you want to reset numbering, which is not yet supported in python-docx. Some folks have done it, but it requires a fair amount of manual work directly on the XML.

[mavwolverine]

See if this helps: mavwolverine@7cb692a

numId till 10 is for predefined numbering formats.

so ilvl=0, numId=10 could be your first level and first numbering series.
For nested increment ilvl.
For new numbering sequence, increment the numId.

[Substr]

I notice this issue is still open so I was wondering if someone could clarify how this should be done? @scanny you mentioned this can be done with the built-in styles, but I'm not seeing how. There's nothing in the documentation which describes how to create a nested numbered list either.

If this feature relies on the change that @virajkanwade made above, can that be merged in?

[scanny]

Try doing it by hand first, using Word.

• Create five short paragraphs to use as bullets.
• Apply List Number style to the first paragraph
• Apply List Number 2 style to the second and third paragraph
• Apply List Number to the fourth and fifth paragraph

If the document looks like the one you want when you're done, just apply these styles to the list paragraphs in your document according to your needs.

[mavwolverine]

Heres a snippet from my html to docx convertor. HTH.

self.numId = 10  # Always start with 10
p = self.document.add_paragraph()

              def _processContent(p, node, font={}, numbering={'ilvl': -1}):
                    .
                    .
                    .
                    elif content.name in ('ul', 'ol'):
                        new_numbering = numbering.copy()
                        new_numbering['style'] = 'ListBullet'
                        if content.name == 'ol':
                            new_numbering['style'] = 'ListNumber'
                        new_numbering['ilvl'] = numbering['ilvl'] + 1
                        r = _processContent(p, content, font, new_numbering)
                        self.numId += 1
                    elif content.name == 'li':
                        p1 = self.document.add_paragraph(style=numbering['style'])
                        if numbering['style'] == 'ListNumber':
                            p1.set_numbering(numbering['ilvl'], self.numId)
                        r = _processContent(p1, content, font, numbering)

[Substr]

@scanny I'm not sure what list menu items inside Word map to those "List Number" styles. At least the version of Word I have has a separate selection for "multi level lists" which allow me to just select all 5 of the paragraphs, apply that style, and then indent as needed and the numbering follows.

I've tried many combinations with python-docx to build a doc using ListNumber, ListNumber2 etc. styles and while the indenting is correct, the numbering restarts rather than using 1.1, 1.2 etc.

[Substr]

@virajkanwade Thanks for the snippet, but am I correct in saying the patch you linked earlier isn't in the base version so I'd have to manually modify it to get access to the numbering editing ability?

[mavwolverine]

@courthold That @scanny will have to confirm. Haven't had much time to work or even look at python-docx. That reminds me, I need to check if I am using my fork or the original one in my code. Thanks :)

[Substr]

@virajkanwade I gave your branch a go with set_numbering() but unfortunately still only able to get an output like this:

This is the same output I see using the suggestion from @scanny to use ListNumber, ListNumber2 etc.

If I then highlight that list and choose this highlighted item from the list menu in word:

.. then the list appears with correct numbering, as below:

If I compare the before and after document.xml then they are the same in regards to the ilvl and numId attributes, however the numbering.xml of the manually-edited working version contains a whole extra block which starts like this:

<w:abstractNum w:abstractNumId="9">
    <w:nsid w:val="08240F99"/>
    <w:multiLevelType w:val="multilevel"/>
    <w:tmpl w:val="0409001F"/>
    <w:lvl w:ilvl="0">
      <w:start w:val="1"/>
      <w:numFmt w:val="decimal"/>
      <w:lvlText w:val="%1."/>
      <w:lvlJc w:val="left"/>
      <w:pPr>
        <w:ind w:hanging="360" w:left="360"/>
      </w:pPr>
    </w:lvl>
   ...

This doesn't seem to be added by python-docx when defining the lists, so it seems like this kind of multilevel list that I'm after isn't supported at the moment, unless I'm doing something quite wrong?

Thanks

[scanny]

Yes, now you've jogged my memory. Doing these is a real pain in Word. Basically you have to define a new numbering definition or something, I don't remember all the details.

This SO answer has some of the details from when it was fresher in my mind.
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/23446268/python-docx-how-to-restart-list-lettering

But the basic gist is you need to add a new list "instance" that refers to a list definition that specifies the layout details. Crazy, I know :)

You definitely want to stick to using styles for these rather than the way it's done using the toolbar icons. I'd see if you can make it work that way using the Word UI, like use list number 2 style and restart numbering at the right spots, then observe the differences in the XML.

[Substr]

@scanny Thanks for following up. Just to clarify, my problem is that it is restarting the numbering in the lower level lists, I don't want it to :) If I use ListNumber, ListNumber2 etc. then each list item just restarts the count at 1 (first block below). If I keep the same formatting and indent myself, then it keeps the top level numbering order, but never uses decimals (i.e. I would like that 2nd list to go 2, 2.1, 2.1.1 ). This doesn't seem possible just with the styles that I can see.

[junctionapps]

@Substr Did you come up with a way to handle the multi-outline list in the end? I have similar issue, not getting the 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 etc to adhere to the multi-level list definition. However, if in the generated document I change the style from List Number 2 to Normal (or anything else) and back to List Number 2 it formats as defined in the multilevel list (as desired). I'm digging in to it now, but thought I'd ask since your request is not too old.