'Table Tools' context tab not showing for TOC in Word 2016 - I want to convert the Table of Contents to Text but can't get to the command

Question

I have created a Table of Contents in Word 2016.

I wish to convert the table to text, however, when I select the contents of the Table, the 'Table Tools" context tab does not appear.

• I am able to update the table as needed.
• I checked in Word Options, and all the tabs are selected when I look at Customizing the Ribbon.

Thank you for helping me resolve this issue.

Answer 1

Note that the Table Tools will only display when the insertion point is inside an actual table. These tools look a bit different in different versions of Word, but they are contextual, that is, they show up only after you have clicked inside a table.

Answer 2

A Table of Contents in Word is not a Word Table but rather a *Field*.

English can be a confusing language and Microsoft has done nothing to improve that situation!

Since you are not in a Word Table, but rather in a TOC field, the contextual tab does not appear.

Even if it did, the command to convert to text would not work because it is not a Word Table.

Instead, you want to lock or unlink the TOC field.

Locking it means it will not change or update but remains a field. If you want to update it, you can unlock it and update it. Unlinking it changes it to text which can never be updated automatically.

Lock the field - Ctrl+F11

Unlink the field - Ctrl+Shift+F9

See Function Keys and Keyboard Shortcuts that Manipulate Fields and Dealing with Fields in Microsoft Word.

Answer 3

To convert your TOC to text, you will have to unlink the TOC field. See Charles's reply.