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Table of Contents: I want only headings to be displayed, but it is displaying every line

Anonymous
2025-04-07T13:50:13+00:00

I am trying get the "default" TOC, where only headings are displayed, but what I'm getting is every line in the document displayed (in the TOC).

I know there is a way to fix this in References/Table of Contents/Custom Table of Contents, but I can't seem to make this work.

Can you help me get there?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows

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Stefan Blom 341.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2025-04-07T14:00:56+00:00

What you are describing may indicate that too many paragraphs in the document are formatted in heading styles. You can (re-)apply Normal style to affected paragraphs.

However, a default TOC also includes text paragraphs that have been inadvertently formatted with an Outline Level different from "Body Text" (Paragraph dialog box). To quickly omit such paragraphs, edit the TOC field code and remove the \u switch and then update the TOC.

Do the following: Press Alt+F9 (or Alt+Fn+F9 on some keyboards). You will see something like { TOC \o "1-3" \h \u } in place of the table of contents. Delete the \u part and update the TOC with F9 (or Fn+F9). If prompted, choose to update the whole table of contents. Press Alt+F9 (Alt+Fn+F9) again to hide field codes.

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  1. Stefan Blom 341.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-04-07T15:41:36+00:00

    You are welcome. I'm glad I could help.

    As you have found, the Table of Contents dialog box provides full control over the appearance of a TOC that you are creating.

    The dialog box isn't quite as good at modifying settings for an existing TOC, but Microsoft has made some improvements over the years.

    Field editing can always be done. See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/field-codes-toc-table-of-contents-field-1f538bc4-60e6-4854-9f64-67754d78d05c.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-04-07T14:33:44+00:00

    Thank you. This was helpful.

    While poking around, I also found

    References/Table of Contents/Custom Table of Contents/Options

    In this area, you can choose a TOC level at which you want a particular style to appear.

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