Kim Hill1

Q: How do I turn off list formatting in Notes app?

I want the Notes app to function as a plain text editor.

 

But I was experimenting with formatting & selected "Insert Numbered List" from the "Format" menu. Now I can't turn it off!

 

E.g. any time I enter "1) " as the begining of a line, Notes indents & converts it to a non-editable list item ("1."). But I'm writing to paste into a forum that only accepts plain text, so this is useless. Plus, I want the parenthesis. If I copy & paste, the numbers don't even come over!

 

"Jane, stop this crazy thing!"

 

jetsons.jpg

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Apr 14, 2013 1:05 PM

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Q: How do I turn off list formatting in Notes app?

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  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Apr 14, 2013 2:36 PM in response to Kim Hill1
    Level 9 (69,813 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 14, 2013 2:36 PM in response to Kim Hill1

    Based on my tests, try selecting "Insert Numbered List" again.

     

    If there is nothing in the note you need, delete the note and start a new one.

  • by Kim Hill1,

    Kim Hill1 Kim Hill1 Apr 14, 2013 2:43 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 2 (169 points)
    Apr 14, 2013 2:43 PM in response to Eric Root

    That was the first thing I tried. I tried quitting & restarting in between, too. I tried changing list types and then toggling. Started a new note. None of it worked. I ALWAYS get list formatting now!

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Apr 15, 2013 11:14 AM in response to Kim Hill1
    Level 9 (69,813 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 15, 2013 11:14 AM in response to Kim Hill1

    Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later.

     

    Isolating an issue by using another user account

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Apr 15, 2013 11:47 AM in response to Kim Hill1
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 15, 2013 11:47 AM in response to Kim Hill1

    Perhaps removing the Notes plist helps (quit Notes).

    HDD/Users/username/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes/Data/Library/Preferences/c om.apple.Notes.plist

    I am not sure, but most of the times removing the plist helps.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Apr 15, 2013 11:56 AM in response to Kim Hill1
    Level 9 (69,813 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 15, 2013 11:56 AM in response to Kim Hill1

    To make your user library visible, hold down the option key while using the Finder "Go To Folder" command. Enter ~/Library.


    If you prefer to make your user library permanently visible, use the Terminal command found below.


    http://osxdaily.com/2011/07/04/show-library-directory-in-mac-os-x-lion/


    You might want to bookmark the command. I had to use it again after I installed 10.8.2. I have also been informed that if you drag the user library to Finder it will remain visible.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Apr 15, 2013 12:09 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 15, 2013 12:09 PM in response to Eric Root

    The Terminal command is

    chflags nohidden ~/Library

    You have to redo it after an update of the OS.

  • by Jeffrey Jones2,

    Jeffrey Jones2 Jeffrey Jones2 Apr 15, 2013 1:24 PM in response to Kim Hill1
    Level 6 (8,630 points)
    Apr 15, 2013 1:24 PM in response to Kim Hill1

    The Notes app is not a plain text editor. If you want plain text then use a plain text editor. TextEdit can be used in plain text mode. And there are countless other plain text editors. But Notes is not one of them.

  • by Tim Carlson,

    Tim Carlson Tim Carlson Nov 21, 2013 7:38 AM in response to Kim Hill1
    Level 2 (255 points)
    Nov 21, 2013 7:38 AM in response to Kim Hill1

    After your text is auto-formatted, you can undo the action.

     

    Example:

    • Type "1)" then type [space]
    • Auto-formatting is applied
    • Type Z (for undo)
    • Text is reverted to original format
  • by Syncopator,

    Syncopator Syncopator Jan 7, 2014 11:18 PM in response to Tim Carlson
    Level 1 (124 points)
    Applications
    Jan 7, 2014 11:18 PM in response to Tim Carlson

    Tim Carlson wrote:

     

    After your text is auto-formatted, you can undo the action.

     

    Example:

    • Type "1)" then type [space]
    • Auto-formatting is applied
    • Type Z (for undo)
    • Text is reverted to original format

     

    Brilliant. Thanks!

  • by Tim Carlson,Helpful

    Tim Carlson Tim Carlson Jan 8, 2014 6:39 AM in response to Syncopator
    Level 2 (255 points)
    Jan 8, 2014 6:39 AM in response to Syncopator

    After looking into it a bit more, the best way is to go to Edit > Substitutions and uncheck Smart Lists.

     

    Interestingly, in the contextual (right-click) menu, under Substitutions, the only item that does not appear is Smart Lists. That's why this took me so long to figure out.

  • by Syncopator,

    Syncopator Syncopator Jan 14, 2014 8:36 PM in response to Tim Carlson
    Level 1 (124 points)
    Applications
    Jan 14, 2014 8:36 PM in response to Tim Carlson

    Tim Carlson wrote:

     

    After looking into it a bit more, the best way is to go to Edit > Substitutions and uncheck Smart Lists.

     

    Interestingly, in the contextual (right-click) menu, under Substitutions, the only item that does not appear is Smart Lists. That's why this took me so long to figure out.

     

    Even better. (Weird that those options aren't considered "preferences." In fact Notes.app doesn't even have a preferences page.)

     

    Thanks!

  • by John_Tyler,

    John_Tyler John_Tyler May 19, 2014 12:15 PM in response to Jeffrey Jones2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 19, 2014 12:15 PM in response to Jeffrey Jones2

    Consider the fact there's are reasons that people need for Notes to have that function.

    My reason is that Notes syncs with Notes on my ios devices, which is where I want them to go. Simply saying that Notes is not a plain text editor is obvious and not at all helpful.

  • by yosemiteg,

    yosemiteg yosemiteg Jul 28, 2014 1:54 PM in response to Tim Carlson
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2014 1:54 PM in response to Tim Carlson

    Tim Carlson wrote:

     

    After looking into it a bit more, the best way is to go to Edit > Substitutions and uncheck Smart Lists.

     

    Interestingly, in the contextual (right-click) menu, under Substitutions, the only item that does not appear is Smart Lists. That's why this took me so long to figure out.

     

    Thank God for your post!  I have been trying to figure this out for 2 years.  I'm not an expert Mac user and the auto-dash in Notes drives me crazy!  I love Notes, but want to use my own list formatting.  Thank you again and I wish Apple would have a preference section for Notes or put it in the Help pages.  THANK YOU!!!

     

    Funny how the little things can cause such frustration and stress. 

  • by iOpa,

    iOpa iOpa Dec 11, 2014 5:10 AM in response to yosemiteg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 11, 2014 5:10 AM in response to yosemiteg

    Thanks, this solved my problem

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