Word - is it possible to do a contents page that interacts with the actual contents

[tiredfeet]

I've got the new version of word (2007?). I have a very vague memory from long back of being able to prepare a contents page that if you delete a section from the main text, it automatically deletes from the contents and vice versa. Can anyone explain to me how to do this?

Gosh......let me think...

isn't it something to do with the category selected from the formatting and style list?

Been a few years since I've used it...........

You need to use styles through your document. So each time you start a section or chapter, you need to use 'header 1' or 'header 2' etc for sections and sub-sections. Make sure the body text is in 'normal'. If you do this consistently then your table of contents should pull all the headings and page numbers. You have to tell it to update when you make changes, though, it doesn't happen automatically.

Yes, you can insert content tables and indexes based on the 'styles' you have used in the rest of the documents e.g. Heading 1, Heading 2 etc. You can use the pre-defined styles, or create your own. Use them consistently throughout your document for section headings. Build the content page at the end, selecting the styles you have used. I think you need to manually 'refresh' the contents table to pick up changes made in the document.

Hope this helps

Nice x-post IG

Another plus point of learning to use styles and using them consistently is that it becomes much easier to format documents in general. You can pre-set all of your styles and save them as a template. Then you can format all your documents the same way very quickly. It's so much better than messing about with font and paragraph menus every time you want to format something.

this all sounds so complicated [dim emoticon], will go and give it a try though...

sorry, I'm so useless at this! thank you for your self so far. I have found the styles and had a go at doing headings, is there a way to insert a contents page now, how do I do this? thank you for the help so far

aaahh, found it now, all starting to make sense.

in case anyone else sees this thread and has the same question it was under the 'references' tab, at the far left of the screen.

soooo long since I've had to do this kind of thing!