WD: How to Build a Table of Contents Using Custom Styles

ID: Q142459

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
  • 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 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

This article describes how to create a table of contents using custom styles. Creating a table of contents in Word is a two-step process. The first step is to mark the document so that Word knows which text to include in the table of contents. The second step is to build the table of contents.

An Application Note is available that gives in-depth information on creating tables of contents. For information on how to obtain the Application Note, please see the following article:

Q127249 WD: XD1033: How to Create a Table of Contents in Word


MORE INFORMATION

Step 1 - Mark the Text

Word allows you to mark the text to be included in the table of contents using two methods: styles and TC field codes. When using styles to mark text, you can choose to apply the built-in heading styles or custom styles. This article describes how to use custom styles to mark table of contents entries.

Use either of the following methods to apply a style to text.

Method 1: Use the menu:

  1. Select the text you want to include in the table of contents.


  2. On the Format menu, click Style.


  3. In the Styles list, select the style you want to use for a table of contents entry.


  4. Click Apply.


Method 2: Use the toolbar:

  • If the text already exists in the document, select the text you want to use as a table of contents entry. On the Formatting toolbar, click the drop-down arrow in the Style list. Select the style you want to use.

    -or-


  • If you are in the process of creating the document, choose the style you want to use from the Style list on the Formatting toolbar. Type the text you want to include in the table of contents. Use the Style list on the Formatting toolbar to return to the style used in the body of your document.


Step 2 - Build the Table of Contents

  1. Place the insertion point where you want the table of contents to appear.


  2. On the Insert menu, click Index and Tables.


  3. Select the Table of Contents tab.


  4. In the Formats list, select the format you want to use.


  5. Click Options. A list of all the styles used in the document appears under Available Styles.


  6. Select the style you used to mark the text. In the TOC Level column, type the level number you want. Typically, this number is "1."

    NOTE: To remove the Heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, and so forth), delete the number in the TOC Level column. This removes the check mark to the left of the style name.


  7. Click OK twice.


Additional Information

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q72763 How to Create Multiple Tables of Contents in Word for Windows


REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 6.0, pages 466-470.

Additional query words: build custom heading format toc howto

Keywords : wordnt word8 kbfield macword98 winword ntword macword word6 word7 word95
Version : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98; WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a; winnt:6.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: September 29, 1999
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