Howto Create a Table of Contents (TOC) in word 2003

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to Windows Reference RSS feed Thanks for visiting!

If you have not already written your Microsoft Word 2003 document in outline mode, then you need to signify what text should be mentioned in the table of contents. Highlight the document text that you want to show up as table of contents major sections. Then, hold down CONTROL, ALT, and the 1 key. This will change that text’s style to what is called Heading 1. This text stands out from the rest of the text and is good for signifying major sections of the document.

Depending on your document, you may have sub-headers and sub-sub-headers. Highlight text and press CONTROL-ALT-2 to make it a sub-header, and highlight text and press CONTROL-ALT-3 for Microsoft Word 2003 to make it a sub-sub-header.

Once you have your document headers ready (or if you wrote your document in outline mode), it’s time to add a table of contents. Scroll to the top of your document and select “Insert”, “Reference”, “Indexes and Tables”.

When the “Indexes and Tables” multi-tabbed dialog box appears, select the “Table of Contents” tab. Press “OK”, and your table of contents is ready!

When you change your Microsoft Word 2003 document, you need to update your table of contents to reflect new headings and/or page numbers. Just right-click on it and choose “Update Fields”. An “Update Table of Contents” dialog box may appear. If it does, select “Update entire table” and press “OK”.

Method 2

Note: Your document does not need to have formatted Headings in order for Microsoft Word’s Table of Contents feature to work. Word can build a TOC from any phrase or keyword in your document. For example, you might place a subject heading, keyword(s) or italicized phrase before each paragraph in your document and would like to use them to create a Table of Contents.

To create a Table of Contents using any keyword or phrase:

Select the first phrase.

Press [ALT] + [Shift] + [o].

Click the “Mark” button.

Set aside the “Mark Table of Contents Entry” window out of your way temporarily.

Scroll to and highlight the second phrase. Grab the “Mark Table of Contents Entry” window again, and singe left click on the “Entry” field. Your word or phrase should now appear in the “Entry” field and the “Mark” button should be clickable. Click the Mark button. Repeat these steps until all phrases are marked.

Click the “Close” button.

Click where you want to insert the Table of Contents in your document.

Go to Insert | Reference | Index And Tables.

Select the Table Of Contents tag, click the Options button, and then select the Table Entry Fields check box.

Click the OK button twice. Word inserts the new Table of Contents based on your own marked phrases at the insertion point.