How do I add a table of contents for a specific section?

Catherine Scherpf 0 Reputation points
2025-12-05T15:27:35.2+00:00

In a long document, how do I add table of contents for each specific section or chapter? I already have one for the entire document.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | MacOS
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  1. John Korchok 223.3K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-12-05T16:19:31.4733333+00:00

    You can create a TOC for each document part by first applying a bookmark to each section. Then, in the field code for the local TOC, you would add a switch and the bookmark name.

    Default TOC field code:

    { TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u }

    After editing to include section bookmark:

    { TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u \b SectionBookmarkName }

    Please post again if you need help implementing this.

    3 people found this answer helpful.

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-05T15:27:49.2466667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To add a table of contents (TOC) for a specific section or chapter in a long document in Microsoft Word, you can follow these steps:

    1. Use Heading Styles: Make sure that the sections or chapters you want to include in the TOC are formatted using heading styles (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2). This is essential as the TOC will pull entries from these styles.
    2. Insert a TOC: Place the cursor where you want the new TOC to appear. Go to the References tab, click on Table of Contents, and choose either a built-in TOC or select Custom Table of Contents to customize it.
    3. Customize the TOC: In the Table of Contents dialog, you can choose which heading levels to include. For example, if you want to include only Heading 1 and Heading 2, adjust the settings accordingly.
    4. Update the TOC: After adding the TOC, you can update it by right-clicking on the TOC and selecting Update Field. Choose to update the entire table or just the page numbers as needed.
    5. Repeat for Additional Sections: If you need separate TOCs for different sections, repeat the process for each section, ensuring you place them in the desired locations within your document.

    This approach allows you to have multiple TOCs for different sections or chapters of your document, making navigation easier for readers.


    References:


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