Formatting Error When Creating a Automatic Table of Contents on Word 2007 - Help Needed

Question

Hi,

I have been given some documents that already have an automated TOC insterted. However, all of the numbering of headings and subheadings is wrong and no matter what I do, I can't fix it!

I have checked the usage of the Headings to create the auto TOC and all seems to be ok, main headings have used  'heading 1', sub headings have used 'heading 2' and sub sub headings have used 'heading 3'. However, the display of numbers are wrong in the contents page itself and throughout the whole of the document e.g. Section one has list of 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 etc. which is correct but then on Section 2 and so forth, the sub headings are still 1.9, 1.10 instead of a new set of sub headings e.g. 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and so one.

Please can you help?

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

To see all options in the dialog box, you have to click the More button (easy enough to miss it).

No, deleting the TOC is not necessary. Once the formatting is correct in the document, just update the TOC, as I wrote in my previous message.

I'm not sure if the conversion from MacWord makes a difference; I never work with MacWord myself. What happens if you select a problem paragraph and press Ctrl+Q (to reset paragraph formatting, including numbering, to style)? Does that improve the situation? Of course, you'd have to update the TOC again.

Answer 2

Hi Stefan,

Thank you for your reply. I've tried that but still experiencing the same issue.

You say to make sure that level 2 is set to restart after level 1 but I cant see on that menu where I check that?

Should I be deleting the current TOC before making these ammendments?

I am also keen to undertand how this issue has come about. It was sent to me from someone with a MAC. Would this cause this formatting issue?

Thank you again for your help.

Answer 3

Place the insertion point in the first Heading 1 paragraph, and then click Home tab | Multilevel List | Define New Multilevel List. Verify that the numbering is correct.

In particular, make sure that level 2 is set to restart after level 1 and that the format includes level 1. You may have to recreate the number formats (in the "Enter formatting for number" box). Use the "Number style for this level" box to add the current number, and use "Include level number from" to add any previous level(s). See also http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/numbering20072010.html.

When you are done, update the TOC. Right-click it, select Update Field, and, when prompted, choose to update the whole table.