Table of contents - second line of entry keeps adding a tab stop

Venteux · #1 04-26-2023, 09:09 AM

I have a custom TOC style that only has the following two tab stops: 0.15" and 3.23". But when the table of contents entry is two lines long, the second line seems to always add a tab stop at 1", which means the page number doesn't align to the right because it's too short and stops at the 1" tab stop. How do I remove the 1" tab stop? I tried to remove it from the style but it keeps coming back whenever I refresh the table of contents.

Charles Kenyon · #2 04-26-2023, 10:33 AM

These tab stops are set in your TOC styles.

Tab settings are set by paragraph, not for the entire document.

Venteux · #3 04-26-2023, 10:39 AM

But my TOC style that I have applied for this doesn't have the 1" tab stop.

kilroyscarnival · #4 04-26-2023, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venteux

I have a custom TOC style that only has the following two tab stops: 0.15" and 3.23". But when the table of contents entry is two lines long, the second line seems to always add a tab stop at 1", which means the page number doesn't align to the right because it's too short and stops at the 1" tab stop. How do I remove the 1" tab stop? I tried to remove it from the style but it keeps coming back whenever I refresh the table of contents.

It looks like that is a TOC2 line? Guessing because it's 11.6 and 11.7. Presuming there's an 11.0 that is a Level 1 / TOC1 line.

I'd click on the little expansion marker underneath Styles on your Home ribbon, find TOC2, right mouse click and hit Modify. Then hit the Format button in the lower left corner of the Modify Style window, select Tabs on the dropdown, and clear all tabs before resetting your Right Tab at the point where you want it (right margin?).

Charles Kenyon · #5 04-26-2023, 01:04 PM

TOC styles are not applied by the user but by Word.
I would also guess that it would be TOC 2.

Try just moving the tab stop on the Ruler. By default, this should change the applicable style.

Venteux · #6 04-26-2023, 01:37 PM

No, it's definitely a TOC 4. It's a really big document and TOC 2 refers to another line.

I have also tried moving the tab stop on the ruler, and it does automatically update the style, but then when I make changes in the document and refresh the TOC, the tab appears again.

I guess it's just a bug.

Thanks anyway!

Guessed · #7 04-26-2023, 03:37 PM

It is a bug and it has been a 'feature' of Word for a very long time. It is known as the Jason Tab. See Whenever I update my Table of Contents it acquires unwanted tabs, and I have to press Ctrl+Q to get rid of them

Once you refresh the TOC, select it and press Ctrl-Q to remove it. Alternatively, you could use a macro to refresh your TOC(s)

Code:

Sub UpdateTOCs()
  Dim aTOC As TableOfContents
  For Each aTOC In ActiveDocument.TablesOfContents
    aTOC.Update
    aTOC.Range.ParagraphFormat.Reset  'remove the jason tabs (local formatting tabs inserted in a toc with hanging indents)
  Next aTOC
End Sub

kilroyscarnival · #8 04-27-2023, 06:00 AM

Never heard of that. Thanks, Andrew! Hope that sticks in my brain in case I ever face it.

Venteux · #9 04-27-2023, 06:21 AM

Thank you, Andrew! That is so helpful to know.

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