Hands-On Lab: Automatic Table of Contents in Microsoft Word

1. Creating the Cover Page (No Page Number)

The cover page does not have a page number. Therefore, we start the document with a new section.

Steps:

1. Open Microsoft Word and create a new document or open an existing one
2. Create the cover page, such as a report or thesis title page, by:
3. Opening the Insert menu
4. Selecting Pages → Cover Page
5. Choose one of the available cover templates and adjust it as needed

2. Creating the Preface Page (Page i)

Please note that the Preface uses Roman numeral page numbering (i), while the previous page (Cover) has no page number. To prevent the next page from inheriting the previous format, we must separate them using a different Section Break.

Assume the next page will be the Preface.

When using Word’s built-in cover page, the page after the cover is automatically placed in a different section. To verify that the cover and preface pages are in different sections, follow these steps:

Steps:

1. Double-click the footer area on the cover page (see Figure 3).
2. You will see that the cover uses First Page Footer, while the preface page shows Header.
3. Click Close Header and Footer (see Figure 4).
4. On the Preface page, write the preface text (see Figure 5).
5. Because the Preface title must appear in the Table of Contents, change the text style from Normal to Heading 1.
6. Select the text Preface, then go to Home → Styles → Heading 1 (see Figure 5).
7. Add Roman numeral page numbering (i) to the Preface page (see Figure 6).
8. Steps: Double-click the footer → Page Number → Bottom of Page → Plain Number 2.
9. Select Page Number → Format Page Numbers → set format to i, ii, iii, then click OK (see Figure 7).
10. The Preface page numbering using i is complete.

3. Creating the Foreword Page (Page ii)

Please note that the Foreword uses the same Roman numeral numbering format as the Preface. Therefore, a Page Break is sufficient.

Since it is still within the same section (Roman numerals), there is no need to create a new section—just move to a new page.

Steps:

1. Move the cursor to the bottom of the current page (Preface).
2. Select Layout → Breaks → Page (see Figure 8).
3. On the new page, write the Foreword content (see Figure 9).
4. Change the Foreword title style to Heading 1 so it appears in the TOC.
5. The page number automatically becomes ii, following the Preface.
6. Foreword page numbering is complete.

4. Creating the Table of Contents Page (Page iii)

Please note that the Table of Contents page uses the same Roman numeral numbering format as the Foreword and Preface. Therefore, a Page Break is sufficient.

Since this page is still in the same section, there is no need to create a new section—just insert a new page.

Steps:

1. Move the cursor to the bottom of the Foreword page.
2. Select Layout → Breaks → Page (see Figure 10).
3. On the new page, type Table of Contents only—the content will be generated automatically later.
4. Change the title style to Heading 1 so it appears in the TOC (see Figure 11).
5. The page number automatically becomes iii.
6. Table of Contents page numbering is complete.

5. Creating CHAPTER I (Page 1)

Please note that CHAPTER I uses numeric page numbering (1, 2, 3, …), while the previous page (Table of Contents) uses Roman numerals (iii). To prevent the numbering from continuing incorrectly, the section format must be separated using a Section Break.

Steps:

1. Move the cursor to the bottom of the Table of Contents page.
2. Select Layout → Breaks → Next Page (see Figure 12).
3. On the new page, type CHAPTER I: SERANG CITY and its content.
4. Change the title style to Heading 1 so it appears in the TOC (see Figure 13).
5. The page number initially follows the previous format, so it must be changed to 1.
6. Double-click the footer → Page Number → Bottom of Page → Plain Number 2 (see Figure 14).
7. Select Page Number → Format Page Numbers → set format to 1, 2, 3…, then click OK (see Figure 15).
8. Page numbering for CHAPTER I: SERANG CITY is complete.
9. Subsequent pages will continue using numeric numbering unless another format change is applied.

6. Creating a Landscape Page

In some reports or documents, we may need to create tables that require a Landscape page layout, while the previous pages are in Portrait orientation. Therefore, the landscape page must use a different format from the previous page.

Break used: Next Page

Landscape pages must be created in a separate Section. Otherwise, the entire chapter will also become landscape.

Steps:

1. Move the cursor to the very bottom of the page (BAB I in this case).
2. Select Layout → Breaks → Next Page. (see Figure 16.)
3. Change the page orientation from Portrait to Landscape. Select Layout → Orientation → Landscape. (see Figure 17.)
4. On the new page, type TABLE 1: POPULATION DATA 2025 along with its content.
5. Adjust the layout and table position on this landscape page.
6. Finish creating the Landscape page.

7. Returning to Portrait

To return the document to the normal Portrait orientation, we must change the page format again so that the following pages do not remain in Landscape mode.

Break used: Next Page

Landscape layout should only be applied to the required page, so we need to exit that section.

Steps:

1. Move the cursor to the very bottom of the Landscape page.
2. Select Layout → Breaks → Next Page. (see Figure 18.)
3. Move the cursor to the new page, then change the orientation back to Portrait. (see Figure 19.)
4. Adjust the page numbering to continue with the next number.
5. Double-click the footer area of the current page.
6. Select Page Number → Format Page Number → Number Format to 1, 2, 3 ... → Page Numbering: Continue from previous. (see Figure 20.)
7. Finish restoring the page to Portrait orientation.

8. Creating BAB II and Subsequent Chapters

The following pages are already in Portrait orientation with numeric page numbering, so we can continue writing the content as needed.

Break used: Next Page (recommended when starting a new chapter)

BAB II usually follows the same format as BAB I, so repeat the same steps.

9. Creating Subchapters

To ensure that Subchapter titles appear in the Table of Contents:

• The first subheading under a chapter must use Heading 2.
• The second subheading must use Heading 3.
• The third subheading must use Heading 4.
• And so on (see Figures 21 & 22).

If there are sub-points under a subchapter that should appear in the Table of Contents, apply the appropriate Heading style as well.

10. Inserting the Table of Contents

Once all Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3 styles are correctly applied, proceed with the following steps:

1. Place the cursor on the Table of Contents page.
2. Select References → Table of Contents, then choose one of the available styles. (see Figure 23.)
3. Edit or adjust any text formatting if necessary.