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list-type Type of List

Specifies what prefix character should precede each list item. Typically, the style specifies the character type (a “simple” list for no character at all, a “bullet” list for bullet-style characters, or an “order” list for counting numbers or letters). The style may also name the character class explicitly (“alpha-lower” for a list numbered “a.”, “b.”, “c.”).

Usage/Remarks

Specifying Bullet Characters
If the @list-type specifies a bulleted style (“@list-type="bullet"”), the @style-detail attribute may be used to name the preferred prefix character such as “dash”, “hollow-bullet”, or “square”. If no @style-detail is given, the processing system will choose what character to display. BITS neither establishes nor suggests values for the Styling Detail attribute.
An explicit <label> that is part of a list item always takes precedence over the Type of List or Styling Detail attributes.
Prefix Words
Whether a list-item prefix character is established by a named @list-type, or through the use of @style-detail for a bulleted list, the prefix character may be enhanced by a prefix word, named in the @prefix-word attribute.
A prefix word is in addition to, and typically preceding, any prefix characters (numbers, bullets). For example, a list type of “order” and a prefix word of “Step” would produce: “Step1. aaaa”, “Step2. bbbb”, “Step3. cccc”, etc. Note that typically, no white space follows the inserted word, i.e., “Step” rather than “Step ”.
The standard exception to this order is the display order for a bulleted list, in which the prefix character would precede the prefix word—“• Step” rather than “ Step•”.
OPTIONAL on elements: <def-list>, <list>
Value Meaning
A word A word that either (1) specifies the character to be used for the list-item prefix (for example, the word “bullet” for a list with bulleted items) or (2) describes the appearance or format of the list items (for example, the word “simple” for a list that has no prefix character before each list item or the word “order” for a numbered list whose prefix style is set at display time).
Restriction @list-type is an optional attribute; there is no default.

Suggested usage

Although designed to accept any text as its value, the following are suggested list types, which name the prefix character for each item in the list:
order
Ordered list. Prefix character is a number or a letter, depending on style.
bullet
Unordered or bulleted list. Prefix character is a bullet, dash, or other symbol.
arabic
Ordered list. Prefix character is an Arabic numeral
alpha-lower
Ordered list. Prefix character is a lowercase alphabetical character.
alpha-upper
Ordered list. Prefix character is an uppercase alphabetical character.
roman-lower
Ordered list. Prefix character is a lowercase roman numeral.
roman-upper
Ordered list. Prefix character is an uppercase roman numeral.
simple
Simple or plain list (No prefix character before each item)
Tagged Samples
Prefix-character is a bullet, or similar
List is not numbered in any way
...
<list list-type="bullet">
 <list-item>
  <p>The benefits of geriatric day hospital care have been
   controversial for many years.</p>
 </list-item>
 ...
</list>
...
Unordered list with character set by @style-detail 
...
<p>... To assist standards developers to define accessibility 
requirements and recommendations, the Guide presents:
 <list list-type="bullet" style-detail="dash">
  <list-item>
   <p>a summary of current terminology relating to accessibility;</p></list-item>
  <list-item>
   <p>issues to consider in support of accessibility in the standards 
    development process;</p></list-item>
  <list-item>
   <p>a set of accessibility goals (used to identify user accessibility 
    needs);</p></list-item>
  <list-item>
   <p>descriptions of (and design considerations for) human abilities 
    and characteristics;</p></list-item>
  <list-item>
   <p>strategies for addressing user accessibility needs and design 
    considerations in standards.</p></list-item>
 </list>
</p>
...
Numbered Procedural list 
...
<list id="g387" list-type="order"
  list-content="procedure-list" prefix-word="Step ">
 ...
 <list-item><p>Attach the other red jumper cable clamp to the
  working battery's positive terminal.</p></list-item>
</list>
<graphic xlink:href="warning.jpg"/>
<list continued-from="g387" list-type="order"
  list-content="procedure-list" prefix-word="Step ">
 <list-item><p>Attach one black jumper cable clamp to
  the working battery's negative terminal.</p></list-item>
 <list-item><p>Attach the other black jumper cable clamp to
  a clean metal surface on the disabled vehicle.</p></list-item>
 ...
</list>
...