Guide to LaTeX (4th Edition) (Tools and Techniques

4.4. Generalized lists 77
normally set to 0 pt so that no indentation occurs. This can only
be changed in list decl.
\labelwidth
is the width of the box reserved for the label. The text of the
label is printed right justified within this space. A new default
value may be set globally which then applies to all list levels.
\labelsep
is the spacing between the label box and the list text. A new value
may be assigned globally, but it is only effective at the first level.
\itemindent
is the distance by which the label and the first line of text in an
\item are indented to the right. It is normally set to 0 pt and so
has no effect. This value can only be redefined in list decl.
When changing the vertical spacings from their standard values, it is
recommended that a rubber length (Section 2.4.2) be used.
The label created by the \item command normally appears right justified
within a box of width \labelwidth. It is possible to make it left
justified, as in the following list of parameters, by putting \hfill at the
end of the definition of the standard label or in the \makelabel command.
4.4.3 Example of a user’s list
List of Figures:
Figure 1: Page format with head, body, and foot, showing the
meaning of the various elements involved.
Figure 2: Format of a general list showing its elements.
Figure 3: A demonstration of some of the possibilities for
drawing pictures with L AT E X.
This list was produced with the following input:
\newcounter{fig}
\begin{list}{\bfseries\upshape Figure \arabic{fig}:}
{\usecounter{fig}
\setlength{\labelwidth}{2cm}\setlength{\leftmargin}{2.6cm}
\setlength{\labelsep}{0.5cm}\setlength{\rightmargin}{1cm}
\setlength{\parsep}{0.5ex plus0.2ex minus0.1ex}
\setlength{\itemsep}{0ex plus0.2ex} \slshape}
\item Page format with head, body, and foot, showing the
meaning of the various elements involved.
\item Format of a general list showing its elements.
\item A demonstration of some of the possibilities for
drawing pictures with \LaTeX.
\end{list}