no table of contents in Word 2004

[matt neuburg]

In Word 2004 we're having a problem in our documents where we cannot
generate a table of contents: Word just hangs when we try to do it. Is
anyone else seeing this? Thx - m.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

In Word 2004 we're having a problem in our documents where we cannot
generate a table of contents: Word just hangs when we try to do it. Is
anyone else seeing this? Thx - m.

I'm able to generate TOCs here for 300 page documents with perhaps 175
style-based TOC entries.

How are you generating them (e.g., Styles? TC fields?). I'll assume
you've trashed your Normal template and tried uncorrupting the file...

 

[Paul Berkowitz]

In Word 2004 we're having a problem in our documents where we cannot
generate a table of contents: Word just hangs when we try to do it. Is
anyone else seeing this? Thx - m.

Hi, Matt,

I generated a TOC for a 50-page document just fine. I had 5 levels of
Headings styles mapped to three TOC styles (Headings 3, 4, and 5 all map to
TOC 3). As I recall, it was rather fiddly to get at the TOC styles since
they don't appear in the Formatting Palettes even with {so-called,
completely untrue] "All styles" showing. I had to get there from
Format/Styles. I used a template, but it turned out to be easier to make
changes in the document and then "Add to Template" than vice versa. (If you
modify the template it doesn't update the document already created.)

I think it's essential to use only the built-in Headings Styles, modified as
you like, but not create new styles for this purpose. In Insert/Index and
Tables/Table of Contents, click Options, check Styles (I don't know what the
other way is - bookmarks? TC fields?), and enter the TOC level (which is
really TOC style number) for each Heading style you want in the TOC - a
check mark will appear. (This is where I entered 1, 2, 3, 3, 3 in the TOC
level column for Headings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 respectively).

I haven't tried the non-Styles method. Is that where you're having a
problem?

I'd also recommend setting this up in a separate template and not using
Normal.


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[matt neuburg]

I think it's essential to use only the built-in Headings Styles, modified as
you like, but not create new styles for this purpose

We generate from Heading 1 only.

The odd thing is that the same documents, I'm told, will allow
generation of the TOC using Word X. If that's true, then Word 2004 must
have some odd sensitivity.

I solved the problem for the particular document I was working on by
deleting one table (of many) and one section break. I do not yet know
what it was about these objects that was preventing the TOC from
building. I was able to guess what the troublesome objects were because
Word would freeze in the middle of "repaginating" at a particular page,
so I just had to work out what was on that page that might be causing
the blockage.

m.

 

[Beth Rosengard]

The odd thing is that the same documents, I'm told, will allow
generation of the TOC using Word X. If that's true, then Word 2004 must
have some odd sensitivity.

I solved the problem for the particular document I was working on by
deleting one table (of many) and one section break. I do not yet know
what it was about these objects that was preventing the TOC from
building. I was able to guess what the troublesome objects were because
Word would freeze in the middle of "repaginating" at a particular page,
so I just had to work out what was on that page that might be causing
the blockage.

Hi Matt,

Sounds like it was the table. Just as an experiment, try converting that
table to text and then immediately back to table again. If the problem
disappears in Word 2004, then that was it and it might confirm that Word
2004 actually is more sensitive to various kinds of corruption than Word X.

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***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
Mac MVP

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