How can you use bullet/list items in the Mac Mail client?

Thunderbird it is then ... shame because I like the Apple Mail client in general.

i've tried everything as well - search in help produced nothing. writing in word and then pasting into email program works, but awkward of course.

i can receive messages formatted properly.

very frustrating. i think i'll go back to eudora. bullets are terribly useful.

not sure if this will help:
goto "format" tab; "lists" ; "insert bulleted list"

problem is I haven't worked out how to get rid of the bullets once the list is complete. if anyone knows would be grateful to hear the answer.

ahhh... simple.... down arrow :)

Hi shanks

Your're right! This helps alot. Is this then only possible in Leopard?

I only have leopard now so cant speak for tiger

Just found out that in Mail 3.0 (Leopard) you can insert the menu in Format > Lists > Insert bulleted list as a toolbar icon in Mail.
Just right click or ctrl + click on the toolbar and choose the List icon. Drag it to anywhere on the toolbar.

Mac mail is a BIG Pain in my A##. Why can't apple trust users with a simple formatting toolbar right on the compose screen. Instead, I have to go to the clumbsy menu and look for something as simple as insert image, bulleted list, right, left, center justify. I think Apple sometimes need to stop "thinking different" and follow some conventions of user interface that EVERYBODY understands

completely agree, formatting bar is what we need. And how on earth do you turn bullets off - madness!

I always find that ranting helps me come up with a solution!

Here it is, to get rid of bullets / remove bullet formatting in apple mail:

Apple>[ then hit return. This takes the indent to the left of the screen. Apple ] increases the bullet indent by the way : )

Now if someone would pass on to Apple mememe's answer and suggest it be put in the Help section of Mail. Of course there are a number of formatting issues that Apple should address, both in the area of making it easier to format text (and UNformat it). Another problem I find is that I format emails with lists or indents, but the formatting isn't always seen by recipients. Next time you format an email extensively, blind copy yourself and see how it looks. Also, send it to a friend and ask them to reply keeping the original message intact and see if it comes back to you as you had originally designed it.

mememe,

I tried your method, but it doesn't work. For me, if I want to get rid of a bullet, I hit <return> on the last empty bullet line.

Another problem with the mail is this: When I create a new mail, the bullet button is on the mail, but when I reply to a mail, I have to go to the menu to insert it. Again, a big pain.

Apple, here's a suggestion: create an "Expert" view that allows users with a fully functioning brain to have a apple-native mail tool for adults.</return>

To make mememe's solution work you need to first select the bulleted sentence or phrase and then use <apple-> I also discovered you can increase the indent of the bulleted list ) (and the bullet that's used with <apple->

There is no "Lists" icon in the customization area (not on the version that I'm using) 2.13 (753.1)

This has bugged me for some time until I realize there is no icon for it when you are composing a message but it is available in the menu. When in the body of your message, choose Format - Lists from the menu and then select Insert Bulleted List or Insert Numbered List. You can also customize the New Message toolbar to add an icon for it. I have Mail 3.5.

hold down the control key, then hit return

this should work for Apple Mail 3.5 clients running on Leopard 10.5.2

haven't tried it on Tiger.

In Leopard (OS X 10.5.5) Mail 3.5 I just discovered a much simpler solution: after the last bullet entry hit return - you'll see a new bullet ready for an entry . . . but, if you don't enter any text but hit return again, your cursor will go to the normal place.

If you have a need to insert unbullleted text . . . type your text, select it, press the command (Apple) key + ]

Y, it should be on a shortcut key. It's not simpler to not have it, it's making life unnecessarily complex.

You lucky guys all have leopard. if you have tiger bulleted/numbered lists are simply not foreseen by mail. the only way is to write a txt doc and copy paste which actually is a pain in the a... W eudora

Now a feature of Snow Leopard! Format, Lists, Insert Bulleted Lists. You can even add an item to the toolbar! Whoohoow. Next thing you know they'll add copy and paste to the iPhone!

To get Insert List onto the toolbar in leopard you need to choose the Customise Toolbar option when you are composing a new mail item.

If you try to customise the toolbar when reading mail or looking at your mailbox, it won't give you the Insert List option.

Ian