How to make a table of contents in Word for a few seconds

In addition to the simplicity and speed, this method has several significant advantages over manual input. If you decide to change the structure of the document, the table of contents can be easily reconstructed into it. In addition, the subtitles will be links to quickly open the relevant sections of the text.

This instruction is for all Word versions, in addition to Word Online: Web version is not able to create an automatic table of contents. The location and the names of some interface elements in the old editions of the program may vary, but the general procedure is stored in them.

1. Select styles for headers

Arrange the headings in the text and apply formatting styles to them with the following names: Title N. Observe the hierarchy. For example, if the top-level headers you choose the style "Heading 1", select the style "Heading 2," and so on for the next level of headings.

To apply a style to the header, select the last and click the appropriate style to the toolbar. If panels are missing the styles, open them using the keyboard shortcut Alt + Ctrl + Shift + S. On the right side

screen should see an additional toolbar with all styles.

2. Add a table of contents in a document

Move the cursor to the program added a table of contents based on your formatted headers beginning of the text and click on the tool "Links" panel → «Index» → «Avtosobiraemoe contents 1».

If you want to the table of contents on a separate page, add before and after it breaks. To do this, place the cursor before the table of contents and click "Insert» → «Page break." Then move the cursor to the end of the table of contents and do the same.

If in the future you edit the document and the table of contents will become obsolete, update it: click on it with the left button mouseAnd then click "Update table" and select update only the page numbers or the entire table of contents.

You can quickly navigate to sections of the text, clicking the left mouse button on the relevant paragraphs of the table of contents. But that links work, hold press Ctrl.

3. If desired, adjust the view of the table of contents

If the appearance of a standard table of contents does not suit you or it does not display all of the headers, you can delete it and set up a new table of contents to fit their needs. In this case, click "References» → «Index» → «Configurable TOC".

When the window opens with the settings, select the table of contents settings that you need. You can remove the placeholder (points near the points), hide or move the page numbers, choose the number of levels to display and edit their hierarchy.

see also

• 9 tips to help you work faster in Word →
• 7 tricks to work in Word, which knows not everyone →
• 10 quick tricks with Excel →