Word TOC problem - breaking in a weird spot.

[Doroth]

I pasted this earlier in the Software section, but have not gotten any answers and really would appreciate any feedback that may help.

I've been working on multiple documents (about 30 or so) for weeks. I haven't seen this problem on any of the other documents and have no clue what is causing it in two of the last four.

My TOC is breaking in such a way that instead of filling up the first page, then flowing to the second page, the TOC is splitting after the 23rd item on the first page, leaving 25 items on the second page. This is a program inserted break - not one that I inserted.

I've managed a 'get around' by highlighting the TOC and selecting "keep with next," but any time the TOC elements are updated, it goes back to the original formatting. I have no clue about how to fix this and would like to know why this is occuring. Any ideas?

 

[Doroth]

Well, it always seems that when I've finally given up hope and ask for help, I find the solution. I found the solution to this and as always it was incredibly predictable, but a little obscure.

While poking around in the TOC formatting, I noticed that the paragraph for the TOC 2 items had the "keep with next" checked. I don't know why these documents were that way as any other time I've totally deleted a TOC and started over, this selection was not automatic. Anyway, it is fixed. I'm relieved and thought I would post the answer here in case anybody does a search for this in the future.

 

[tf1]

Well this isn't a real-time forum, we are unpaid and unloved nerds and all have real full-time jobs as well as family commitments. And it is a weekend! You need some more patience.

My answer would be is: TOCs are styles, a TOC style for each level. If the break is always ocurring at the same level, check the underlying TOC style to see what formating is different from the other TOC styles. Keep with Next and Keep Together attributes would be the favourite.


Regards: tf1

 

[Doroth]

I realize who uses tek-tips since I've been a member since early 2002. When I posted this on Friday morning, I was really needing the help and just re-iterating a previous question because the documents will be out of my hands within a week and any problematic issues would recur. So, I thought I would make my plea. I didn't realize that I evidently sounded so forceful or impatient. I just wanted to post it in a second forum because nobody had responded within the other forum though questions after mine had been answered. And, I'm sure you've noticed diffent forums have different users. So, I thought I would post it again to see if the users of a different forum might have any ideas.

As I mentioned, I hadn't run into this with the previous 30 or so documents that had originated from the same source. In addition, the style was the same as the other documents. That was why I was confused. As you may have noticed, I eventually found the solution.

By the way, reveal formatting did not show this change on the level 2 TOC items. I had to go into insert/references/table of contents/modify/TOC2/format/paragraph to see that only the level 2 stuff had 'keep with next' selected.

My second post was me laughing at myself and posting the information so that if anybody ran into a similar problem, they might find my solution helpful...

It was definitely not my intention to appear impatient. You will notice my comment "Well, it always seems that when I've finally given up hope and ask for help, I find the solution" refers back to another post I made years ago... asked the question and then figured it out. It was me laughing at myself - not complaining.

 

[tf1]

Fully understood (or should I say misunderstood)!

Usually, when paragraph formatting is changed, a solid little square appears in the left margin when the ShowAll option is toggled on (ctrl+shift+8). I've not tested if this is true with a ToC: it may be different because the ToC is a field.


Regards: tf1