ToC and a button work on one PC but not another PC

[Dekade]

Using this YouTube tutorial I created a Table of Contents in a document. Everything seems to work just fine on the MSOffice 2016 originating Windows 10 Pro (up to date) PC. Opening the document in another PC, also with MSOffice 2016 and Windows 10 Pro, leads to the Table of Contents and the multi-placed button in the document, not working at all.

1. While making the document and following the tutorial I found that all I had to do was hover over the ToC, click, and I would be taken to various Heading 1, 2, 3, or 4 locations. Thus the rest of the tutorial is not really followed as far as copying/pasting/linking Headings to make a ToC.
2. I created a button that takes me from any location in the document back up to the ToC. I have placed that button in many document locations.
3. However, the button, when clicking on it, goes into an editable object. I cannot figure out how to make it static
4. I also have not found a way to make the button move with document added/deleted/edited text. The option to change the button behind, in front, inline, etc does not seem to address my issue
5. Nonetheless, my biggest concern is getting the ToC to work on PC's other than the original PC where the document was created.

I have used WORD for 25+ years but am definitely not an expert. I must be doing something wrong.

I sure would like some help to correct my errors.

Thanks, Dekade

[Charles Kenyon]

That is the craziest method of adding a TOC in Word that I've seen, and I've seen a few. It seems like it was done by someone who never learned to use the TOC feature in Word. It is reinventing the wheel.

• How to create a table of contents in Microsoft Word by Shauna Kelly
• Generating a Table of Contents
• TOC Tips and Tricks by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP

To go back to the TOC use Alt+Left Arrow.

[Dekade]

Charles Kenyon - Thanks for replying. I appreciate your critique. It shows me I was headed absolutely in the wrong direction. I will use your links and go from there. I hope your comments will eventually make it back to the YouTube'r. I guess it would have been best for me to have come to this forum in the first place. Anyway, thanks again for setting me straight. Dekade

[Dekade]

I will update thread when I have succeeded in getting it all to work correctly.

[Dekade]

Attached is a sample ToC Document I made using Shauna Kelly instructions. Would someone please open it in your PC and see if it functions. Also, there is a return button that works but not on my second PC.

Nothing will function in the second Windows 10 PC I have which also has WORD 2016 on it.

[Guessed]

TOCs are not anything ground breaking nor is it a new feature.

A TOC is simply a field and you can update any field by selecting it and pressing F9. The way you have inserted the TOC, you also have a Content Control around it with a frame and flags above it showing you can update it with a click. That Content Control makes it appear more special than it actually is - just select the whole TOC and press F9 to update it on any machine.

[Dekade]

I got excited to receive your advice. However, still didn't work. Selected entire contents then pressed F9 then chose 'entire document".

[Guessed]

You will see a dialog and you should choose "Update entire table" to refresh the TOC with the current contents of the file.

If you say it doesn't work, what exactly is NOT happening when you do this?

[Charles Kenyon]

Originally Posted by Dekade

Attached is a sample ToC Document I made using Shauna Kelly instructions. Would someone please open it in your PC and see if it functions. Also, there is a return button that works but not on my second PC.

Nothing will function in the second Windows 10 PC I have which also has WORD 2016 on it.

Your TOC works fine on my machine. I seldom use the TOC inside a content control. It slows things down. If you instead insert a Custom (not Manual) Table of Contents you do not get the Content Control.

All I see for your button is a graphic. However, I believe that an ActiveX button would need a .docm format document to run.

Again, the button should not be necessary. Alt+Left Arrow returns the TOC. You could also add a Cross-Reference to your Table of Contents acting as a hyperlink if your really needed it. That would not have to use ActiveX.

On this second computer where it does not work, what happens if you open Word in Safe mode?
Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC - Microsoft Office

[Dekade]

Originally Posted by Guessed

. . .If you say it doesn't work, what exactly is NOT happening when you do this?

The ToC grays out with a background gray to it. Also, No selection hand/finger appears to click with. No click/finger hand on button also.

[Dekade]

Originally Posted by Charles Kenyon

. . . On this second computer where it does not work, what happens if you open Word in Safe mode?
Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC - Microsoft Office

I haven't tried this yet. Will do so within the next hour.

[Dekade]

Also, Charles Kenyon - I am not ignoring your Alt+arrow advice. It's just that I wanted to play around and make something more visual, just for fun. I could also use linked text but chose to play around with a button.

[Charles Kenyon]

It's just that I wanted to play around and make something more visual, just for fun. I could also use linked text but chose to play around with a button.

Again, if it is an ActiveX button, you will need to save in a macro-enabled file and the user will need to allow macros to run. If the document you are trying on the second computer is a .docx file and it is an ActiveX control, it will not function. Here are temporary links to two documents that have a command button and also a hyperlinked shape to move around a document (to a bookmark). One is .docx and the other .docm. The ActiveX control is present in the .docx document but does not work there. The hyperlink shape at the end works in both.
Dropbox - deleteme Button2.docx
Dropbox - deleteme Button2.docm

The ToC grays out with a background gray to it. Also, No selection hand/finger appears to click with. No click/finger hand on button also.

This gray is because you have the option set on that computer to shade fields when selected. I believe this is the default setting; it is the one I use.
The delay may well be due to the field being inside the Content Control, as mentioned.

[Dekade]

Originally Posted by Charles Kenyon

. . . This gray is because you have the option set on that computer to shade fields when selected. I believe this is the default setting; it is the one I use.

The delay may well be due to the field being inside the Content Control, as mentioned.

What I'm going to do now is go back through the thread and reacquaint myself with your posts. The bold underline above is what is not registering with me. It may be something that is over my head for the immediate time being, but, I'm going to try and work through it.

Also, Safe Mode on Win10 PC-2 did not solve anything. Interestingly enough when I also opened the TrialToC.docx in Safe Mode on the original PC I found that nothing worked either. No finger pointer, no clicking available to go to parts of the doc.

All of this seems to have a tendency to be heading into unfamiliar territory for me but am trusting the forum sticks with me till we get it solved.

[Dekade]

Okay, here's where I'm at:

1. I created/inserted a Custom ToC
2. Still nothing happened on PC 2
3. Leaving the document open I started messing around with an ActiveX button
4. This led to seeing that a [Ctrl+click] activates the button to take me back to the top of the document
5. While at the top I decided to do a [Ctrl+click] on the ToC
6. Viola, the ToC now works
7. Next I revisited the original/original big document (not TrialToC.docx) that started this whole nightmare
8. Using [Ctrl+click] made the original/original document also work just fine
9. However, to assist any user in using the Return To Top of Document (ToC) button I would have to make an ActiveX button to claim the [Ctrl+click] maneuver while hovering over it

Thus, I am left with the confusion of - Why can I activate the ToC on PC1 just by hovering over it and clicking, BUT, on PC2 the same hovering gesture does not display a finger until [Ctrl] is pressed while hovering, then commence with a left click to activate. Henceforth, is there any way to eliminate this extra step and why is it occurring on [MY] PC2 (but not Charles Kenyon's PC) in the first place?