Text Formatting ⇒ automate a list of short items on multiple columns

[ptoche]

Any suggestions on how to get enumerate/itemize to create a list of short items on multiple columns (as opposed to the default behavior of creating a vertically long and narrow list)?

I asked a related question a couple of days ago, but since it hasn't received any replies I am reformulating my question. Any suggestions for an approach compatible with the beamer class (whether with or without the shortlst package)?

Relatedly I'm also interested in a method to automatically format a table on multiple columns for short items -- by that I mean that a 2-column table would be formatted as a 4-column table (with some space or some vertical line separating each 2-column group).

many thanks,