How to Create a Table of Contents in LibreOffice Writer

Creating an automated table of contents in LibreOffice Writer simplifies document navigation and ensures page numbers remain accurate throughout edits. This guide outlines the straightforward process of applying heading styles, inserting the table of contents, customizing its settings, and updating it as your document evolves.

Step 1: Apply Heading Styles to Your Text

LibreOffice Writer generates a table of contents by detecting paragraph heading styles. Before creating the table, format your section titles properly:

1. Highlight the text you want to use as a section title.
2. Open the Paragraph Style dropdown menu on the Formatting toolbar (or press F11 to open the Styles sidebar).
3. Assign an appropriate level:
   • Select Heading 1 for main section titles.
   • Select Heading 2 for subsections.
   • Select Heading 3 for smaller sub-points.

Step 2: Position Your Cursor

Click on the exact location in your document where you want the table of contents to appear, such as a blank page following the title page.

Step 3: Insert the Table of Contents

1. Click Insert in the top menu bar.
2. Hover over Table of Contents and Index.
3. Select Table of Contents, Index or Bibliography… from the submenu.

Step 4: Configure the Table Settings

A dialogue window titled Table of Contents, Index or Bibliography will appear with several tabs:

• Type Tab:
  • In the Title box, keep “Table of Contents” or type a custom name.
  • Ensure the Type is set to Table of Contents.
  • Adjust Evaluate up to level to specify how deep your headings should go (the default is 10 levels).
  • Check Protected against manual changes to prevent accidental edits inside the generated table.
• Entries Tab (Optional): Customize the structure, hyperlinks, and page number formatting for each heading level.
• Styles Tab (Optional): Change fonts, indents, and text styles assigned to the table elements.

Step 5: Generate the Table

Click OK at the bottom of the dialogue window. LibreOffice Writer will automatically compile and insert the table of contents with corresponding page numbers.

How to Update the Table of Contents

If you add new headings, change text, or shift page numbers later:

1. Right-click anywhere within the gray background of the table of contents.
2. Click Update Index.