Tip: When you update a table of contents in Word, choose “Update page numbers only” if your headings have moved (because you’ve added or deleted content) but their wording hasn’t changed. Adding a table of contents (TOC) to a long Word document is easy, thanks to the user interface options in the Ribbon versions. Manual table of contents inserted by Word. Figure A shows a simple table of contents with three heading levels: Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3. If you want to show lower level headings e.g. For more info, see Custom table of contents . Then click on the Table of Contents button in the Table of Contents group.

Alternatively, if you click the Custom Table of Contents… option, you can format the way the table of contents will look: Choose a different style, hide page numbers, include more heading levels … Select all the second-level headings and apply the Heading 2 style, and so on. When prompted whether to replace the existing table of contents, click on the OK button. The \o “1-2” part collects outline levels 1 and 2 (usually by default, Heading 1 and Heading 2 paragraphs), and maps them to TOC 1 and TOC 2 styles within the table of contents. Next, select the formatting for the table of contents. Word 2016 TOC missing some level 2 and 3 headings and while others work fine?! Heading 1 and Heading 2, you need to change the levels shown in the table of contents. I want to display only two levels in the Table of Contents in a Word doc. Click where you want to insert the table of contents – usually near the beginning of a document. Use the settings to show, hide, and align page numbers, add or change the tab leader, set formats, and specify how many levels of headings to show.

It includes a title (“Table of Contents”), which you can manually edit or delete if desired. On the Table of Contents window, change the Show levels setting from 3 to 4 or 5, depending on how deep you want to go. Set the number of levels to display in the Show levels box.

Headings formatted with the H1 style become main topics, while headings formatted with H2 become subtopics. If you want to change the style of your table of contents (e.g. To customize your existing table of contents: Go to References > Table of Contents. Figure 2.

The table of contents should now display the number of levels that you just set. Watch Take tables of contents to the next level to see how to control the look of your table of contents by adding your own options and formatting. 2, and 3. Click on the OK button.

Cleaning up the Table of Contents (TOC) in Microsoft Word. A table of contents doesn’t have to use only main headings in the document. Go to the References tab > Table of Contents > Insert Table of Contents. By default, a Table of Contents shows 3 levels - Headings 1, 2 and 3. The TOC can have multiple levels just like a numbered or bulleted list.

Inserting a custom ToC. When prompted whether to replace the existing table of contents, click on the OK button. But there's more …

Select Insert Table of Contents from the popup menu. Click on the OK button. Select Custom table of contents. Heading 4, Heading 5, or you just the higher heading levels e.g. You may be working with a document that's already written and needs a table of contents added, but you want to preserve the font and formatting of the document. Set the number of levels to display in the Show levels box. All three styles are blue—a …