8.2 Tables of contents, captions and cross-references
The contents page and every figure number update themselves.
Before:07. Word — CoreUnlocks:13. Portfolio & Certification
A contents page built from heading styles, captions that number figures by chapter, and cross-references that survive reordering — this topic makes the document maintain its own bookkeeping. It follows sections because contents and numbering interact with them, and it leans entirely on the styles topic: no heading styles, no table of contents. The common confusion is that fields do not update themselves on screen; selecting everything and updating all fields before sending is the habit that prevents a contents page pointing at yesterday's page numbers.
Work through these
A table of contents built from heading styles
A contents page is generated from heading styles, which is the reason the styles topic came first. Built this way it updates itself; typed by hand it goes wrong the first time anything moves.
Captions on figures and tables; numbering by chapter
Captions attached to figures and tables number themselves and can include the chapter number. Numbering by hand survives exactly until you insert one in the middle.
Cross-references that stay correct when things move
A cross-reference points at a numbered item rather than repeating its number, so it stays correct when things move. This is what makes see figure references trustworthy.
Updating all fields before you send
Generated content does not always refresh on its own, and updating everything before sending is the last step that prevents an embarrassing stale number.
Practice file
- wd-02-long-report.docx
A structureless multi-page report: no heading styles, a hand-typed contents page with wrong page numbers, two uncaptioned tables. Add sections, styles, a real TOC, captions and cross-references.
Opens in Word. Every name, number and address in these files is made up. No account needed to download.
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