Weekly Computer Tip # 373
3 August 2012


Create a Table of Contents without using Headings
(Word 2003-2010)

Multiple-page documents, especially those containing several sections or chapters, often require a table of contents. Although you can create such a table manually, the easiest way is to use the built-in heading styles. (Headings formatted with the Heading 1 style appear as level 1 entries; headings formatted with the Heading 2 style appear as level 2 entries, and so on.) You can, however, create a Table of Contents without using Headings.

Here's how:

  1. Select the text you want to have in the Table of Contents.
  2. Press Alt+Shift+O to open the Mark Table of Contents Entry dialog box.
  3. If preferred, change the level entry.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Move the insertion point to the location where the table of contents is to appear.
  6. Click on the Table of Contents button in the Table of Contents group on the References tab. (In Word 2003 choose the Insert, Reference, Index and Tables command.)
  7. Click on Insert Table of Contents.
  8. Click on the Options button.
  9. Ensure Styles, Outline levels and Table entry fields are ticked. (The last one being the crucial one!)
  10. Click OK twice.

With thanks to Monica Parker for this week's tip inspiration!

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