Microsoft KB Archive/46722

Incorrect Tab Spacing in Table of Contents

PSS ID Number: Q46722 Article last modified on 03-07-1997

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========================================================= 3.00 3.01 3.02 4.00 MACINTOSH kbusage SUMMARY ======= ———————————————————————- The information in this article applies to:

 == Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0 == 

Tab characters included in table of contents entries can cause unusual spacing in the automatically generated table of contents.

For example, if the table of contents is created based on Outline headings, and numbering has been applied to the outline (with the Renumber command), a tab character will be included in each table of contents entry.

When the table of contents is produced, a tab included as part of an entry is linked with a tab setting in Word’s default table of contents styles (toc 1, toc 2, etc.). The default setting is 5.75 inches from the left-hand margin. In this situation, the text that is the main part of the entry is moved over to the 5.75-inch mark, flowing on into the margin and perhaps off the page. In addition, a dotted tab leader is applied to the tab.

To correct this situation, the table of contents styles can be redefined for the document as follows:


 * 1) Place the cursor in the first line of the table of contents.
 * 2) Choose Define Styles from the Format menu.
 * 3) Select the style named “toc 1”.
 * 4) Leaving the Define Styles dialog box open, add a tab stop to the ruler that allows a small amount of space between the number or text at the beginning of the entry and the text following the tab. For example, if the left indent for the style is set at .5 inches on the ruler, set a left-aligned tab stop around .75 inches on the ruler.
 * 5) Click OK (to define the style, close the dialog box, and reapply the style to the current paragraph). The first level table of contents lines should then appear correctly.
 * 6) If sublevels are included in the table of contents, repeat steps 1 through 5, placing the cursor in the first sublevel line, redefining the “toc 2” style, etc., until all levels have been redefined as necessary.

KBCategory: kbusage KBSubCategory: Additional reference words: macword macword5 ====================================================================== ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1997.