WD: Index Moves to Previous Page When Updated

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

SYMPTOMS

In a Word document that contains a Next Page section break followed by an Index, when you update the Index, the Index may move to the previous page.

CAUSE

Word changes the section break immediately above the Index to a Continuous section break when you update the Index.

WORKAROUNDS

Use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Use Two Next Page Section Breaks

When you insert the Next Page section break to force your Index to a new page, insert two Next Page section breaks instead, and then insert your Index. This will initially cause you to have a blank page between your document and the Index. However, when you update the Index, the Next Page section break immediately above the Index will change to a Continuous section break, and the blank page will disappear.

See the "More Information" section of this article for additional details using this method.

NOTE: Do not delete any of the section breaks immediately above the Index after you update the index.

Method 2: Change the section break above the Index to New Page

After you update your Index, place the insertion point on the section break immediately above the Index. On the File menu, click Page Setup. On the Layout tab, change the Section Start box to New Page, and then click OK.

NOTE: If you later update the Index again, you may need to repeat this method to return the section break to a New Page section break.

Method 3: Use the RD Field

Create your index in a separate document using the RD field.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q127249
   TITLE     : XD1033: How to Create a Table of Contents in Word

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows and Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition.

MORE INFORMATION

In a Word document, you insert a Next Page section break to force the next page of the document to a new page. You may want to do this at the end of your document so your Index will appear on a separate page from the rest of the document.

What Happens When You Insert Your Index

When you insert the Index, Word places a Next Page section break above the Index and a Continuous section break below the Index. When you view your document in Normal view, your text should appear similar to the following:

     This is sample text this is sample text this is sampl
     text this is sample text this is sample text this is
     sample text this is sample text this is sample text t
     is sample text this is sample text this is sample tex
     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 1
     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 2

                   Your Index would appear here

     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 3


     NOTE 1: This is the Next Page section break you inserted into your
     document to force the Index to a new page.

     NOTE 2: This is a Next Page section break that Word automatically
     placed when you inserted your Index.

     NOTE 3: This is a Continuous section break that Word automatically
     placed when you inserted your Index.

What Happens When You Update Your Index

When you update your Index, Word changes the section break immediately above the Index to a Continuous section break, similar to the following:

     This is sample text this is sample text this is sampl
     text this is sample text this is sample text this is
     sample text this is sample text this is sample text t
     is sample text this is sample text this is sample tex
     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 4
     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 5

                   Your Index would appear here

     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 6

     NOTE 4: This is the Next Page section break you inserted into your
     document to force the Index to a new page.

     NOTE 5: This was a Next Page section break that Word automatically
     placed when you inserted your Index, but when you update the Index,
     this section break is changed to a Continuous section break.

     NOTE 6: This is a Continuous section break that Word automatically
     placed when you inserted your Index.

What Happens When You Use Method 1 Workaround

After you use method 1 to workaround this problem, your text will look similar to the following:

     This is sample text this is sample text this is sampl
     text this is sample text this is sample text this is
     sample text this is sample text this is sample text t
     is sample text this is sample text this is sample tex
     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 7
     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 8
     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 9

                   Your Index would appear here

     ====================End of Section=================== <-- See Note 10

     NOTE 7: This is the Next Page section break you inserted into your
     document to force the Index to a new page.

     NOTE 8: This is the second Next Page section break you inserted when
     you use Method 2 to workaround this problem.

     NOTE 9: This was a Next Page section break that Word automatically
     placed when you inserted your Index, but when you update the Index,
     this section break is changed to a Continuous section break.

     NOTE 10: This is a Continuous section break that Word automatically
     placed when you inserted your Index.

• Initially, a blank page will appear between the Index and the rest of your document. However, this blank page will disappear when you update the Index.
• When you update the Index, the section break immediately above the Index is changed to a Continuous section break.
• The second section break (New Page) is ignored by Word.
• The first section break (New Page) forces your Index to a new page.
• Do not delete any of these section breaks.