Using Word Advanced Features

Creating a Table of Contents

What is a table of contents?

A table of contents is a list of the headings in a document that you can insert in a specific location. You can use a table of contents to get an overview of the topics discussed in a document or to quickly navigate to a topic.

You can create a table of contents for a document that you plan to print as well as view in Word. For example, when you display the document in print layout view, the table of contents includes page numbers along with the headings. When you switch to web layout view, the headings are displayed as hyperlinks so that you can jump directly to a topic.

Creating a table of contents

To create a table of contents, use one of the following methods to specify the headings you want to include:

Built-in heading styles: You can apply the built-in heading styles (Heading 1 through Heading 9).
Outline-level formats: If you don't want to change the formatting of headings, apply styles that include outline-level formats.
Custom styles: If you want to use your own formatting for headings, apply custom heading styles.
Embedded headings: If you want to include embedded headings (for example, the first few words in a paragraph), apply the built-in heading styles.

After you've specified the headings to include, you can choose a design and build the finished table of contents. When you build a table of contents, Word searches for headings with the specified styles, sorts them by heading level, and displays the table of contents in the document.

Updating a table of contents after making changes

If you add, delete, move, or edit headings or other text in a document, you should manually update the table of contents. For example, if you edit a heading and move it to a different page, you need to make sure that the table of contents reflects the revised heading and page number.

Press F9

Create a table of contents by using built-in heading styles

1. In your document, apply built-in heading styles (Heading 1 through Heading 9) to the headings you want to include in your table of contents.
2. Click where you want to insert the table of contents.
3. On the Insert menu, click Index and Tables, and then click the Table of Contents tab.
4. Do one of the following:
   • To use one of the available designs, click a design in the Formats box.
   • To specify a custom table of contents layout, choose the options you want.
5. Select any other table of contents options you want.

**For Help on an option, click the question mark and then click the option.

Apply a different style

To apply a paragraph style, click the paragraph or select the group of paragraphs you want to change.

Or

To apply a character style, click the word or select the words you want to change.

1. On the Format menu, click Style.
2. In the Styles box, click the style you want to apply, and then click Apply.

If the style you want is not listed, select another group of styles in the List box. A paragraph mark appears to the left of each paragraph style. A bold, underlined letter "a" appears to the left of character styles.

Tips

• To quickly apply a style, select a paragraph or character style in the Style box on the Formatting toolbar.
• You can use the Format Painter to quickly copy character and paragraph styles.
• You can use keyboard shortcuts to apply paragraph styles.

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