Three counter styles with four shaping options
Numeric style is `1., 2., 3.`. Roman converts the counter to classic Roman numerals - works for any positive integer (the converter uses the full subtractive `I, V, X, L, C, D, M` mapping). Letters maps 1→A, 26→Z, 27→AA, 52→AZ, etc. - Excel column-letter style.
Start controls where counting begins (default 1). Zero-pad (numeric only) widens each number to match the longest one so `1..12` becomes `01..12` - useful for filenames or aligned tables. Reverse numbers from highest to lowest, treating the first line as the top.
Blank lines are skipped - they pass through without getting a counter, and they do not consume a number. So `Apples / / Oranges` produces `1. Apples / (blank) / 2. Oranges`, not `1. Apples / 2. / 3. Oranges`.
How to use add counters to list items
- 1Paste your list into the input panel
- 2Pick Style: Numeric (1, 2, 3), Roman (I, II, III), or Letters (A, B, C)
- 3Set Start at to begin counting from any positive integer
- 4Toggle Zero-pad (numeric only) to align digit widths
- 5Toggle Reverse to count down instead of up
Keyboard shortcuts
Drive ListShift without touching the mouse.
What this counter actually does
Three styles, three shaping toggles, blank-line aware.
Numeric style with optional zero-padding
Default `1., 2., 3.`. Turn on Zero-pad to widen every number to match the longest count - `1..12` becomes `01..12`, `1..100` becomes `001..100`. Good for filenames and aligned tables.
Roman style via subtractive converter
Maps 1→I, 4→IV, 9→IX, 40→XL, 90→XC, 400→CD, 900→CM using the classic subtractive notation. Works for any positive integer up to several thousand. Lowercase output is not offered - run through lowercase after if needed.
Letters style (Excel column convention)
1→A, 26→Z, 27→AA, 52→AZ, 53→BA - the same convention Excel uses for column labels. Past 702 (`ZZ`) you get three-letter labels.
Custom start number
Start at any positive integer. Useful for continuing a numbered list from a previous document, or numbering with an offset that matches external references (page numbers, ticket IDs).
Reverse toggle + blank-line awareness
Reverse counts from (start + count - 1) down to start. Blank lines pass through without a counter and without consuming a number, so the counting stays contiguous on the non-blank items.
Worked example
Default numeric style, start at 1, no zero-pad, no reverse.
Apples Oranges Cherries Plums
1. Apples 2. Oranges 3. Cherries 4. Plums
Settings reference
How each option shapes the output using the sample above.
| Setting | What it does | Effect on the sample |
|---|---|---|
| Style: Numeric (default) | `1., 2., 3., 4.` | `1. Apples` / `2. Oranges` / ... |
| Style: Roman | Subtractive Roman numerals | `I. Apples` / `II. Oranges` / `III. Cherries` / `IV. Plums` |
| Style: Letters | Excel column-letter convention | `A. Apples` / `B. Oranges` / `C. Cherries` / `D. Plums` |
| Start at: 5 | Counter begins at 5 instead of 1 | `5. Apples` through `8. Plums` |
| Zero-pad: on | Widens numbers to match the longest (numeric only) | No visible change for 4-item list; kicks in at 10+ |
| Reverse: on | Counts down from highest to lowest | `4. Apples` / `3. Oranges` / `2. Cherries` / `1. Plums` |