I have a problem with Word 2016 (native not compatible format) where the page numbers in a TOC are being positioned incorrectly.

I read up on Jason tabs and this seems to be a related but different problem.

The problem I'm having is that when a title is shorter than the indent of the hanging indent, the page number aligns at the hanging indent rather than at the right margin. i.e. it seems like the hanging indent is acting as an unwanted tab stop.

I use an incrementally indenting TOC with each level set to have a hanging indent of 2 cm (to accommodate the long section numbers.) e.g left margin is set as 2+ ((outline level-1)/2) cm , the hanging indent is at (left margin -2cm).

TOC 2 is derived from TOC 1 etc.

All TOC levels have two tabs,

• Left justified, no leader, at the left margin


• Right justified, with a '.' leader at 16 cm for the page number

The right margin is set at 15.5 cm

If I remove the tab stop in the TOC style that aligns with the Hanging Indent the problem persists.

If I increase the size of the hanging indent then the problem persists.

The TOC, like all my styles, are set programmatically.

There are no tabs set in the TOC base style ('Normal').

Unlike earlier versions of word the right tab is not respected so page numbers align at the right margin rather than a short distance beyond it.

Does anyone have suggestion on how to correct this problem.

Our temporary solution is to use a longer heading name (e.g. 'List of Definitions', rather than 'Glossary').

It would be easier to diagnose with a document containing the actual TOC you're using. See also: https://www.msofficeforums.com/word/...html#post52345

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

You can set a right indent on your TOC that is inside the right margin and set the right-tab for the TOC outside the right indent but inside the margin.

I've attached a document which demonstrates the problem.


The indenting of the page number occurs because I have set a hanging indent to accommodate headings with 'complex' heading numbers.


It just so happens that 'Glossary' is shorter than the 2 cm I've used for the hanging indent and consequently the tab that Word inserts after the Heading text gets stuck at the hanging indent.


In the attached document the problem disappears if you set the hanging indent for TOC 1 style to 1.5 cm, But this then causes problems elsewhere with the numbering scheme

I'd be happy to accept a workaround that allowed me to pad the 'Glossary' title with non visible characters but unfortunately, when adding non-breaking spaces, hidden ' leader' characters or just tabs, Word happily ignores the non visible text (even when using charformat for the hidden text).

PS. Thanks for the tip about the right margin. That resolves the issues I was having with wrapping heading text appropriately in the TOC.

Attached Files

TOC problem demonstrator.docx (79.0 KB, 12 views)

You have a number of options, including:
1. Delete the first tab-stop and reduce the amount of hanging indent for the TOC1 Style;
2. Map a different TOC Style to the 'SubTitle' Style, using an appropriate paragraph format for the TOC Style you choose.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

I finally got a working solution. As I use dots as a leader between the toc entry and the page number it is possible to pad a very short entry with periods which are coloured white.

These then show up as slightly different dots in the TOC but ensure that the page number lines up OK.