What is a Table of Contents (TOC) in MS Word?
A Table of Contents (TOC) is a list of headings and page numbers that provides an overview of a document’s structure. It helps readers quickly navigate to different sections.
How to Create a Table of Contents in MS Word
Step 1: Apply Heading Styles
Before inserting a TOC, you need to format headings properly:
- Select a section title in your document.
- Go to the "Home" tab.
- In the "Styles" group, choose:
- Heading 1 (for main sections)
- Heading 2 (for sub-sections)
- Heading 3 (for sub-sub-sections)
- Repeat for all headings in your document.
Step 2: Insert the Table of Contents
- Place your cursor where you want the TOC (usually at the beginning).
- Go to the "References" tab.
- Click "Table of Contents".
- Choose a built-in style (e.g., Automatic Table 1 or 2).
- The TOC will be inserted automatically.
Step 3: Update the TOC
If you edit your document, update the TOC:
- Click anywhere in the TOC.
- Go to the "References" tab and click "Update Table".
- Choose:
- "Update page numbers only" (if content remains the same).
- "Update entire table" (if headings were changed).
Customizing the TOC
- Click "Custom Table of Contents" (in the TOC dropdown).
- Adjust formatting, show more heading levels, or change styles.
- Click OK to apply changes.
