Creating a Table of Contents from TOC Fields

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 22, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021

Word allows you to create a table of contents using your own TOC specifications. You do this by first inserting TOC fields in your document (as described in the previous tip) and then compiling the actual TOC. To compile the TOC, follow these steps:

Position the insertion point where you want the TOC inserted.
Display the References tab of the ribbon.
Click the Table of Contents tool in the Table of Contents group. Word displays a drop-down list from which you should choose Custom Table of Contents. Word displays the Table of Contents dialog box.
Make sure the Table of Contents tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Table of Contents tab of the Index and Tables dialog box.

Click on the Options button. Word displays the Table of Contents Options dialog box. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2. The Table of Contents Options dialog box.

Make sure the Table Entry Fields check box is selected (at the bottom of the dialog box).
Click on OK to close the Table of Contents Options dialog box.
Click on OK to generate your TOC.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (12660) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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