The firm I work for wants a ToC formatted in a column style with page numbers on the left and then headings to the right of the page number. I can create this in a table, but I'd like the page numbers to update automatically. Is this an option?




First post, thanks for your patience and assistance.

Not easily, and not using the Table of Contents feature. Maintaining it will be a problem.


You can use Cross-Reference fields for this, returning the text in one field and the page number in a separate field. Your firm should decide whether this is worth an hour or two of your time to set up and at least a half hour of time each time it changes, vs. an automatic traditional-format Table of Contents.

This requires some lateral thinking as it is not something Word can usually do - but it can be relatively painless if you get creative.

Most languages like English start on the left and build words to the right (LTR) but other languages start on the right and work left (RTL). The languages going RTL actually put the page numbers before the text.

So your solution is to apply the RTL formatting to your TOC after you refresh it. This is most easily done by adding a button on your Quick Access Toolbar. Refer to How to write from right to left in Word 2016 / 365 / 2019? | EasyTweaks.com to see how to get both the RTL and LTR buttons on your Quick Access Toolbar. Put them both there in case of unintended use.

Once you have these buttons, refresh your TOC, select it and click the RTL button.

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

Thanks for the feedback. I agree the time invested may not be worth it in the long-run. I have no idea why the genius in marketing thought this was the way to go, but now we get to deal with it. I was hoping there would be some magic fix I haven’t learned yet, but I’ll probably just have to manual about it. I’ll look in the RTL suggestion also. Thanks again!!

Genius' like this should be rewarded - let them format your documents until they realise the reason no-one else does a ToC like that.

If you create a macro to refresh (and lock) the TOC it shouldn't be too painful. I would be locking the template to avoid the drama when someone's options cause the fields to update and no-one remembers to RTL the TOC.

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

The RTL option is the only semi-automatic method. It would be far less work than the cross-reference fields.
Great thinking Andrew!
I agree about rewarding genius.