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How to Create a Table of Contents in Word

Posted on June 14th, 2009 by Marck
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Before computers and word processors, creating a table of contents meant leafing through every page of a printout, taking down headings and sections one at a time, and marking page numbers on a separate document.  Thanks to programs like Microsoft Word, the time and effort needed to create a table of contents are now a thing of the past.  Here’s how you can create a table of contents in Microsoft Word 2007.

Marking Text

While you can create a table of contents manually, Word 2007 offers many ways for you to automatically create a table of contents.  The first thing you need to do is to prepare and format the document to automate the table of contents function:

Headings

Preset headings are found on the “Styles” section of the Microsoft Office ribbon.  Headings, titles, and subtitles are used to define the sections of the document that will be outlined in the table of contents.  The formatting styles also give pleasing visual cues to the final document.

When using preset headings, follow these tips:Most text written in “Heading 1″ or “Heading 2″ are used for the automatic compilation of the table of contents.  Unless you’re working on a very long and detailed document with plenty of sections (like a report or a dissertation), it’s best to use fewer headings to keep the table of contents concise.

Building the Table of Contents

To build the table of contents, follow these steps:

  1. Prepare the document by marking and formatting the headings.
  2. Go to the “References” tab on the main menu, and look for the “Table of Contents” menu on the Microsoft Office ribbon.
  3. Click the group marked “Table of Contents,” and click “Insert Table of Contents.”
  4. The menu will then indicate the number of heading levels you want to include in the table of contents.  Refer to the document to see what heading levels you used, and if the contents of the subheadings are long or detailed enough to be included in the table.
  5. Select a design or format for your table of contents.  If you’re using themes or Quick Styles, it’s best to use a predefined color and font scheme for the table.  You may also want to make your own scheme by using the Quick Styles menu on the Style section of the Microsoft Office ribbon.
  6. Save all changes and proofread your table of contents.

Thanks to the many features offered by Microsoft Word, you can automate many of the publication tasks that used to be done manually.

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