- I removed a left tab stop (around 4.85 cm) from TOC style 3


- It gave the desired result in the appearance of my TOC for short Level 3 headings (dot leader extending all the way to the page number on the right)
- Then I updated my entire TOC. This caused the problem to re-appear (page number left-aligned at 4.85 cm and no dot leader)
- So I checked the Modify Style dialog box, Format-Tabs dialog box and it doesn't show the left tab stop at 4.85 cm; however when I click on a level 3 heading in the TOC, it shows the 4.85 cm left tab stop in the ruler.

How do I permanently get rid of the 4.85 cm tab stop from TOC 3 style in my document?

Thanks

Adjust the TOC 3 style via the "Modify Style" menu (Right-click on the TOC 3 style; Select "Modify" (menu will appear); Select "Format" (lower left-hand corner); Select "Tabs"; make your adjustments; click OK.

Yes, that's what I initially did; however this problem is occurring anyway.

Are these outline-numbered headings? In that case, note that Word adds a tab character for the text following the heading number and a second tab character for the page number. What you should do is set the two tab stops in appropriate locations, not try and remove them.

Alternatively, if you really want to get rid of the tabs, you will have to modify the numbered list of headings so that outline/multilevel numbers are followed by a space instead of a tab stop, and you need to customize the TOC so that the page number is not right-aligned.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thanks Stefan. The left tab stop causing this problem is an extra one, in addition to the ones for the heading and page number. And oddly, when I remove it using the Modify Style-Format-Tab Stops dialog box pathway, it reappears in the ruler after a TOC update, but doesn't reappear in the Tab Stop dialog box.
As per your advice, I simply shifted it in the ruler, to a location where it wouldn't cause trouble, and that solved the problem. Thanks for the reminder.

If you can share the document, I'd be interested in taking a look. Of course you should remove any sensitive information. I only need to see the problem heading(s) and the TOC.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional