Hi, I've been trying to see if it is possible to place body text before and after collapsible sections in a word document. I can get the body text to work before but not after.

Example:
------------------------------------------------------------------

Purpose Statement:
These instructions are to accomplish xxxx



To set up software, the following instructions can be used:
Installing File (Collapsable Heading)
Configuring File (Collapsable Heading)
Import Initial Data (Collapsable Heading)

Closing Statement:
Once Software is setup, please contact xxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------------------------------

My issue is that when I use the outline tool to create headings for:
>Installing File (Collapsable Heading)
>Configuring File (Collapsable Heading)
>Import Initial Data (Collapsable Heading)

I cannot add:

"Closing Statement:
Once Software is setup, please contact xxxxxxx"

After "Import Initial Data (Collapsable Heading)" without the statement collapsing into the "Import Initial Data (Collapsable Heading)" procedures. The problem is that the document I'm writing is extensive with some sections needing substeps, that I don't want to display unless the user doesn't have the already needed prereqs. So I want to make them expandable only on request. However, I need to keep all other instructions non-collapsible, both before and after these subsets I'd like to include. Right now every time I add body text after "Import Initial Data (Collapsable Heading)" the result looks like this:

--------------------------------------------------------
Purpose Statement:
These instructions are to accomplish xxxx

To set up software, the following instructions can be used:
>Installing File (Collapsable Heading)
>Configuring File (Collapsable Heading)
>Import Initial Data (Collapsable Heading)
>>Closing Statement: Once Software is setup, please contact xxxxxxx


-----------------------------------------------------------------

And I can't get the text after the headings to not collapse into the last sub instruction step that I included

Try inserting a Word section break before the text that shouldn't be collapsible (and make sure no heading styles are applied to text within the new section of course).

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional