When do I need to use complex selectors in lists?

[techwriter12]

I am in a large project converting many lists created with p-tags using the list toolbar to create lists with ul/ol/li tags. I need to create different combinations of nested numbered and ordered lists, some nested to 3 levels. I am running into issues I've seen posted; when trying to indent I get the choice to select "blockquote." I'm not sure if this is the "normal" way to create nested lists or if this will cause problems ongoing with editing and maintaining these lists. I've also read the postings about complex selectors. I'm not sure if that is the "correct" way to create nested lists or if the writers using complex selectors were trying to have predefined standards for how their lists should appear. I just want to understand how I should be tagging these lists to prevent future problems. I can mess around with them and get the nesting/numbering to work, but I'm not sure it's the best way. I don't think I'm tyring to do anything special. Just have different combinations of ordered/unordered nested lists going to 3 levels. I think I understand the instructions for setting up the complex selectors; I'd just like to understand WHY people are doing that and if it applies to my situation. According to the documentation, I should be able to simply use the toolbar to tag and indent my lists.

[KevinDAmery]

Ok, there are a few things here:

1) If you want to indent something, don't use Tab. The Tab key opens up the various grouping controls like Blockquote and Div (which are useful things, but they're overkill for indenting list items). Use the Indent icon on the toolbar instead.

2) The first reason to use nested lists and paragraphs is that it keeps the lists grouped together as a single XML grouping. This will be a great help if you ever need to go to a structured authoring setup like DITA, makes the code easier to understand for anyone coming along later, and makes sure that your numbers never get out of sequence no matter how many times you edit it.

3) The second reason is that you can use Complex Selectors to control how the nested items are styled, which makes managing the styles easier. They're more work to set up initially, but once they're done you don't have to change the indents or classes manually on your nested lists and paragraphs.

4) To make a nested item, add a list item then click the Indent icon on the toolbar.

5) To make a paragraph item, add an item then go to the Assorted List Actions item and choose Make Paragraph. If you don't want it to have a number or bullet, you can then select the Move Left function from the same menu.

[techwriter12]

I was exclusively using indent on the toolbar to indent list items. My question was more around if I need to use complex selectors at all. I still under certain conditions get the option to select blockquote, even using indent on the toolbar. And I did in fact set up complex selectors (using suggested formats from the Forum) and still at times get the option to select blockquote.

[NorthEast]

It'll do that if the level is already indented as far as it can be - e.g. if you click the list/bullet icon to start a list, and you click indent on the very first item, then you'll get the 'Create group' window (with the blockquote etc) as that item in the list can't be indented any further (i.e. it can't be a 2nd level list item without there being a first level).

[KevinDAmery]

... and just so we're all clear, the existence of complex selectors in the stylesheet has no effect on the behaviour of the indent function. The complex selectors allow you to control how indented list items and paragraphs look. If you didn't have the complex selectors in the stylesheet, you could still indent list items; the difference is that they would have the default fonts, sizing, spacing, etc. instead of something you had defined.