Using itemize and enumerate at the same time

Question

I want to have an enumerated list with bullets. So far I've been writing stuff like

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
  \begin{itemize}
    \item a. First
    \item b. Second
  \end{itemize}
\end{document}

but a better way to get the enumeration must be possible.

So the question is, is there any list that allows enumerated lists with bullets at the same time? Preferably one that allows setting the bullet for each item, just like itemize.

Answer 1

You can easily do that with the enumerate package:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{enumerate}
\begin{document}
\begin{enumerate}[{$\bullet$} a.]
\item One
\item Two
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}[{$\bullet$} 1]
\item One
\item Two
\end{enumerate}

To see more examples just type texdoc enumerate on your command prompt to get access to the package documentation.

---

Edit:

As per the comments below, if you want to change the bullet symbol within the enumerate environment you can use this code:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{enumerate}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{pifont}
\newcommand{\mynewitem}[1][]{\refstepcounter{enumi}\item[#1~\theenumi.]}
\begin{document}
\begin{enumerate}[{$\bullet$} a.]
\mynewitem[\checkmark] Right
\item normal item
\item another normal item
\mynewitem[\checkmark] Right
\mynewitem empty item
\mynewitem[\ding{55}] Wrong!
\item etc.
\end{enumerate}
\end{document}

Note that \mynewitem accepts every symbol, and the packages amssymb and pifont are just to get the \checkmark and crossed (\ding{55}) symbols.

Answer 2

With enumitem and some trickery:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amssymb,enumitem}

\usepackage{showframe} % just for the example

% see http://tex.stackexchange.com/a/16002/4427
\newcommand{\checked}{%
  \mbox{\ooalign{\hidewidth$\checkmark$\hidewidth\cr$\square$\cr}}%
}
\newcommand{\unchecked}{\mbox{$\square$}}

\newenvironment{checkenum}
 {\begin{enumerate}[label=\checkbox~\alph{*}.,ref=\alph{*},align=left]}
 {\end{enumerate}}
% \checkbox restores the meaning of \currentcheckbox to \unchecked
% after having issued it
\protected\def\checkbox{%
  \currentcheckbox
  \global\let\currentcheckbox\unchecked
}
% \Vitem changes the meaning of \currentcheckbox to \checked
% and issues \item
\newcommand{\Vitem}{%
  \global\let\currentcheckbox\checked\item
}
\let\currentcheckbox\unchecked % initialize

\begin{document}

% the symbols occupy the same space
\checked \unchecked

\unchecked \checked

% the test

\begin{checkenum}
\item Not good
\item Not good
\Vitem Good!
\item Not good
\end{checkenum}

\end{document}