rmd via padoc > 2.10.1 converted into docx - default list-style of a referenced DOCX-template not recognized

[Pindar777]

Observation

Since pandoc > 2.10.1 and pandoc-citeproc.exe is no longer being used there is a bug in terms of changing the layout of the default list-style. Doing so in a referenced DOCX-template has no effect on the generated docx-document (at least when knitted via GNU R rmd-file).

That is why I keep using the version from 15.09.2020...

What is working with pandoc-citeproc.exe:

Changing in the word-template can be easily down with "a manual parameter input" after "right click on the list-level". This is working for all levels of the list and then recognized in the generated DOCX-file.

Without pandoc-citeproc.exe:

There is only the default-styling irrespective of the style of a referenced DOCX-template.

[jgm]

I don't really understand this report, can you explain further? pandoc-citeproc was only for citation processing. It has nothing to do with how lists are formatted in the main body of the document. Is your question about citation formatting or something else?

[Pindar777]

@jgm Thank you for your fast response. Please find attached 4 docx files which show the problem: rmd2docx_pandoc_with_templates_2_10_1_vs_2_19_2.zip

• rmd2docx_pandoc_with_default_template.docx → rmd2docx with default template
• MyListTemplate.docx → the designed template (with word being in compatibility mode [it's easier to reach the parameters]
• rmd2docx_pandoc_2_10_1_with_changed_list_in_word_compatibility_mode.docx → reference the „MyListTemplate“ with panoc version 2.10.1 | list style is applied
• rmd2docx_pandoc_2_19_2_with_changed_list_in_word_compatibility_mode.docx → reference the „MyListTemplate“ with panoc version 2.19.2 | list style is ignored

Perhaps I'm using a wrong way to change the list style, but the change in behavior occured after getting rid of pandoc-citeproc.exe.

[jgm]

Have you looked in the manual under --reference-doc? That documents the ways in which you may change the reference docx. I don't believe list style changes are supported. There have been a lot of changes since 2.10, but it may be that allowing list styles to be overridden caused corrupted output in many cases.

[Pindar777]

@jgm I see. Hence, the correct label for this issue would be feature request. As a matter of fact, being able to change the default list styling is a nice feature in order to show, that automatically generated docx-files fulfill all (of the most important) CI-conditions. Indeed, there habe been a lot of improvements in the last years - great work! That's why I'd really like to upgrade to a newer version of pandoc...or get rid of docx, lol

[jgm]

Why do you want to change the list styling? (What changes?)

[Pindar777]

@jgm Just for CI: first item "red, small point", changed indent, second item "a dash" with appropriate indent

[tarleb]

This seems related, although I do not fully understand the issue: #7280.