Word: Create a table of contents with your own headings and styles

You can not only create a table of contents in Microsoft Word automatically, but also with your own headings. We show you how it works.

Set references for the Word table of contents

1. Position the cursor at the position in the text to which the table of contents will later refer.
2. Go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon, click on "Quick Components" in the "Text" area and select the "Field" command.
3. In the "Categories" combo box, change the setting to "Index and directories".
4. Mark below the name »TC«, which defines an entry for the table of contents.
5. Add the desired text "Text entry" on the right.
6. With the additional »field options« you can, for example, activate the »suppress page number« or »outline level« and specify the desired level in the input field next to it.
7. Confirm the dialog with »OK«. In the document, define all other manual entries for your table of contents analogously to the procedure described above.

Create table of contents in Word with your own headings

To ensure that your own fields are actually used in the future, you must also activate an option yourself when setting up the table of contents:

1. To do this, click on "Options" in the relevant dialog and activate "Directory entry fields".
2. Finally, confirm all open dialogs with »OK« and update the directory.