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Creating a Table of Contents Manually

Anonymous
2022-01-08T13:11:00+00:00

There is a way to create a table of contents automatically by going to to References > Table of Contents. But I need to create a table of contents with updatable elements manually rather than automatically because an automatically created table of contents is difficult to format, and its formatting is reset when it is updated. It also automatically adds headings and subheadings in the document which I do not need to be added.

The following is a sample of how a table should look like: 

The blue elements on the left side are all hyperlinks pointing to the places within the document where the indicated chapters start.

Is it possible to make the figures on the right side updatable and linked to the places to which the hyperlinks point, so that the figures may correspond to the page numbers of the places to which the hyperlinks point within the document?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows

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Charles Kenyon 167.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2022-01-08T18:10:39+00:00

Thank you for the information. I can see that it is possible to create a manual table of contents by going to References > Table of Contents > Manual Table. After I create a table in this way, I do not see an option to make the page numbers automatically updatable.

***

Manual means manual. You get to change it as needed.

  • You could use PageRef fields for your page numbering. You would need to insert these fields instead of typing the page number. You would need to be linking to a heading or some other bookmark.
  • You could use Cross-References to insert your headings into the manual TOC. This is a Ref field.
  • Again, doing this is reinventing the wheel, making a lot of work for yourself for no good reason that I understand.

Fields do not necessarily automatically update, although they can be updated. Dealing with Fields in Microsoft Word

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  1. Charles Kenyon 167.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-01-08T18:19:19+00:00

    ***

    In Microsoft Word, is it possible to link one separate element (such as a figure) to another element (such as a certain word within the document), so that the figure may be automatically updated when the word is moved to another page?

    See:

    See also:

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-01-08T17:21:36+00:00

    Thank you for the information. I can see that it is possible to create a manual table of contents by going to References > Table of Contents > Manual Table. After I create a table in this way, I do not see an option to make the page numbers automatically updatable.

    In Microsoft Word, is it possible to link one separate element (such as a figure) to another element (such as a certain word within the document), so that the figure may be automatically updated when the word is moved to another page?

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  3. Charles Kenyon 167.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-01-08T16:56:35+00:00

    You can certainly type a manual table of contents. However, I doubt that is what you really want. It would be a lot more work and less flexible.

    What appears in a Table of Contents is controlled by the TOC field as well as how you have formatted your text or marked items to go in the TOC. You can control what appears in an automatic TOC.

    How it looks is controlled by your TOC styles, which you can modify.

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  4. Stefan Blom 342.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-01-08T14:00:21+00:00

    You can customize the appearance of TOC entries even if you create an automatic TOC. To control the appearance of level 1 entries in the TOC, modify the TOC 1 style, to control the appearance of level 2 entries, modify the TOC 2 style, etc. See http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/TOCTips.htm.

    You can also choose which heading levels you want in the TOC. Click References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents.

    However, you won't be able to format the page numbers different from the heading text, if that is what you are asking.

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