Create And Modify A Table Of Contents

We are going to create, modify, and add Paragraph Styles. We will create a Table of Contents and add hyperlinks.

Results Of This Tutorial

The results of following this tutorial may be downloaded by clicking here. It may be helpful to keep that page available as this lesson is being done.

Why There Are Columns And Words In Bold

To make the tutorial easier to read and to use the same tutorial for both advanced and beginner students, the content in parenthesis ( ) provides extra help for first-time users and shows them what happens on their screen when they perform the actions. Bold is used so that certain words stand out; for example, words to be clicked or to be typed are in bold. To understand the lesson, advanced students may prefer to skim the content and perform the actions specified in bold.

Basic Information

OpenOffice comes with Paragraph Styles named “Heading 1”, Heading 2”, Heading 3“, etc. These numbered “Heading” Paragraph Styles are used to create a Table Of Contents.

Apply The Paragraph Style: Heading 1 For "My Classes"

1. Click File > New > Text Document. (The document appears.)

2. Type the words, My Classes.

3. Click Format > Styles and Formatting. (The “Styles and Formatting” window appears.) Click on the Paragraph Styles, icon. (Place your cursor on each icon, the small pictures, to find 'Paragraph Styles'.)

4. In the Paragraph Styles window, double-click Heading 1. (A heading or sub-title above a paragraph is considered part of a paragraph. Double-clicking "Heading 1" activates the “ Paragraph Style: Heading 1” which is displayed in the “Apply Styles” dialog box , , on the Formatting Toolbar (the third line from the top of the screen. The words “My Classes” become bigger and bold. The Paragraph Style “Heading 1” automatically applies the font type Arial, font size 16, and Bold. These settings can also be seen on the Formatting Toolbar.)

   Modify The Paragraph Style: Heading 1

The settings of a Paragraph Style can be changed at any time.

1. In the Paragraph Styles window, right-click on Heading 1, (Right-click means to use the right side mouse button, not the usual left side button. You will see the small menu .)

2. Click the Modify button, (The “Paragraph Style: Heading 1” window appears.)

3. Click the Font tab. If it is not already selected/highlighted, click Arial (Font) > Bold (Typeface) > 16 pt. (Size). (The “Size” may be specified in percent or in points. To change from percent to points, delete the number in the upper “Size” box and type a number followed by the letters, pt., such as 25pt. To change from points to percent, delete the “Size” number and type a number followed by the percent symbol such as 25%. These settings can also be seen on the "Formatting Toolbar" which is the third line from the top of the screen.)

4. Click the Alignment tab. In the Options section, select (click on) the word Center. (A dot appears before the word “Center” indicating that “Center” has been selected.) Click OK. (The words, “My Classes”, move to the center of the line, appear in bold, and are 16 pt.)

   Add Paragraphs After "My Classes"

5. Press the Enter key. The Paragraph Style: Text body is activated. (The words “Text body” appear in the “Apply Styles” dialog box. The cursor moves down two lines. The “Text body” font type is Arial, the font size is 12 and Bold is not in use.)

6. Type the words, I go to many classes.

7. Press Enter. (The cursor moves down two lines. When the "Enter" key is pressed in the text body Style, a new paragraph is started.)

8. Type the words, These are my classes.

Modify And Apply the Paragraph Style: Heading 2 For "English"

1. Press Enter.

2. Type the word, English.

3. In the Paragraph Styles window, right-click on Heading 2, (You will see the small menu .)

4. Click the Modify button, (The “Paragraph Style: Heading 2” window appears.)

5. Click the Font tab. If it is not already selected/highlighted, click Arial ("ont) > Bold (Typeface) > 14 pt. (Size). (The “Size” may be specified in percent or in points. To change from percent to points, delete the number in the upper “Size” box and type a number followed by the letters, pt., such as 25pt. To change from points to percent, delete the “Size” number and type a number followed by the percent symbol such as 25%.)

6. Click the Alignment tab. In the Options section, click on the word, Left. (A dot appears before the word, “Left”, indicating that “Left” has been selected.) Click OK.

7. Click the Indent & Spacing tab. In the Indent section, in the “Before text” dialog box, type .50. ( (To change the numbers in the dialog box, click repeatedly on the until ".50” appears in the “Left” dialog or you can highlight the numbers and type ".50" or press Delete enough times to delete the number and type the number. When the “Paragraph Style : Heading 2” is activated, the words will be indented of an inch.)

8. Double-click Heading 2. (This activates the “Paragraph Style: Heading 2”. “Heading 2” appears in the “Apply Styles” dialog box.)

Modify And Apply the Paragraph Style: Heading 3 For "Verbs"

1. Press Enter.

2. Type the word, Verbs.

3. In the Paragraph Styles window, right-click on Heading 3, (You will see the small menu .)

4. Click the Modify button, (The “Paragraph Style: Heading 3” window appears.)

5. Click the Indent & Spacing tab. In the Indent section, in the Before text dialog box, type 1.0. (To change the numbers in the dialog box, click repeatedly on the until 1.0” appears in the “Left” dialog or you can highlight the numbers and type 1.0" or press Delete enough times to delete the number and type the number. When the “Paragraph Style: Heading 3” is activated, the words will be indented an inch.)

6. Click the Alignment tab, if it is not already selected, click Left. Click the Font tab. If it is not already selected/highlighted, click Arial (Font) > Bold ( Typeface) > 14 pt. (Size) > OK. (The “Size” may be specified in percent or in points. To change from percent to points, delete the number in the upper “Size” box and type a number followed by the letters, pt., such as 25pt. To change from points to percent, delete the “Size” number and type a number followed by the percent symbol such as 25%.)

7. Double-click Heading 3. (The word “Verbs” moves to the right. The line is indented 1 inch.)

   Add Paragraphs After "Verbs"

8. Press the Enter key. (The cursor moves down two lines. The Paragraph Style: Text body is in effect.)

9. Type the words, Some verbs are active then Press Enter. (The cursor moves down two lines.)

10. Type the words, Some verbs are not active.

Apply The Paragraph Style: Heading 3 For "Nouns"

1. Press the Enter key then type the word, Nouns.

2. Double-click Heading 3. (The word “Nouns” is indented and is in bold.)

   Add Two Paragraphs After "Nouns"

3. Press Enter then type the words, A person is a noun.

4. Press Enter then type the words, A place is a noun.

Apply The Paragraph Style: Heading 3 For "Paragraphs"

1. Press the Enter key then type the word, Paragraphs.

2. Double-click Heading 3. (The word, “Paragraphs”, is indented and is in bold.)

   Add Paragraphs After the Paragraph Style: Heading 3, "Paragraphs"

3. Press Enter.

4. Type the words, This is a paragraph, then press Enter.

5. Type the words, This is also a paragraph.

   Add More Paragraphs After The Paragraph Style: Heading 3, "Paragraphs"

6. Press Enter then type the words, This is a first paragraph.

7. Press Enter then type the words, This is the second paragraph.

Apply The Paragraph Style: Heading 2 For "Math"

1. Press Enter then type the word, Math.

2. Double-click Heading 2. (The word, "Math", is indented and is in bold.)

   Add One Paragraph After the Paragraph Style: Heading 2, "Math"

3. Press the Enter key.

4. Type the words, Math has many parts.

Apply The Paragraph Style: Heading 3 For "Addition"

1. Press Enter then type the word, Addition.

2. Double-click Heading 3. ("Addition" is indented and is in bold.)

   Add A Paragraph After "Addition"

3. Press the Enter key.

4. Type the words, One plus one equals two.

Apply The Paragraph Style: Heading 3 For "Subtraction"

1. Press Enter then type the word, Subtraction.

2. Double-click Heading 3.

   Add A Paragraph After The Paragraph Style: Heading 2, "Subtraction"

3. Press the Enter key.

4. Type the words, Four minus two equals two.

Create A Table Of Contents

A Table of Contents is done after you complete your document. The headings and sub-headings in your document become the entries in the Table of Contents.

1. Click after the last word in the title of the document, just after the words, My Classes. (The flashing cursor appears after the letter “s”.)

2. Click Insert > Indexes & Tables > Indexes & Tables. (The “Insert Index/Table” window appears.)

3. Select the Index/Table tab, if it is not already selected. In the Type dialog box , select Table Of Contents, if it is not already selected. Uncheck Protected against manual changes. Click OK. (The "Table of Contents" appears under the title of your document.)

   Modify And Apply The Paragraph Style: Contents Heading

4. Click Index Styles in the dialog box at the bottom of the Paragraph Styles window. Scroll down to Contents Heading. (If the "Styles and Formatting" window is closed, click "Format > Styles and Formatting". To scroll down, put the pointer of the mouse on the and keep clicking on the until the words, “Contents Heading”, appear at the top of the list.)

5. In the Paragraph Styles window, right-click on Contents Heading, (You will see the small menu .)

6. Click the Modify button, (The “Paragraph Style: Contents Heading” window appears.)

7. Click the Alignment tab. (The “Alignment” window appears.) In the “Options” section, click on the word, Center. (A dot appears before the word, “Center” indicating that “Center” has been selected.) Click the “Font” tab (The “Font” window appears.) and then click “Arial”, “Bold” and 14pt. > OK. (The “Size” may be specified in percent or in points. To change from percent to points, delete the number in the upper “Size” box and type a number followed by the letters, pt., such as 25pt. To change from points to percent, delete the “Size” number and type a number followed by the percent symbol such as 25%.)

8. Double-click Contents Heading. (This activates the “ Paragraph Style: Contents Heading”. “Contents Heading” appears in the “Apply Styles” dialog box. The words, “Table Of Contents”, move to the center of the line.)

9. Close the Styles and Formatting window. (Click on the X in the box in the upper right corner of the window.)

   Add More Entries Into The "Table Of Contents"

Any part of the document may be added to the "Table Of Contents".

1. Highlight (select) the words, second paragraph. (Put the cursor just before the letter “s” then press and hold down the Shift key then press the right-facing arrow key until both words are selected [have a black background].)

2. Click Insert > Indexes and Tables > Entry. (The “Insert Index Entry” window appears. In the “Entry” box are the words “second paragraph”.)

3. In the “Index” box, select Table of Contents, if it is not already there,

4. In the “Level” box select 4.

5. Click the Insert button.

6. Drag the “Insert Index Entry” window out of the way. (Put the cursor anywhere on the top blue line of the window. Press and hold down the left button of the mouse then move the mouse in the same direction as the window is to be moved. Release the mouse button when the window is in the desired location.)

7. Select the words, first paragraph” then click anywhere in the Entry box. (The words “first paragraph” appear in the “Entry” box.)

8. In the “Level” box, select 4.

9. Click Insert > Close.

   Update The Table Of Contents

Any time a change is made that is included in the Table Of Contents, the Table Of Contents must be updated. Update the Table Of Contents as follows:

1. Right-click anywhere within the Table Of Contents. (A menu appears.)

2. Click Update Index/table. (The words “second paragraph” and “first paragraph” appear in the Table Of Contents.)

   Change An Entry Already In The Table Of Contents

   Change a Heading

3. Make the changes in the heading.
4. Right-click anywhere within the Table Of Contents. Click Update index/table. (The entry in the "Table of Contents" changes.)

   Editing or Deleting Entries in The Table of Contents

Index entries are inserted as fields into your document. To view fields in your document, choose View and ensure that Field Shadings is selected.

1. Place your cursor immediately in front of the index entry in your document, second paragraph. (The "Edit Index Entry" window appears.)

2. Right-click on the entry. Choose Index Entry, in the Entry box, type third paragraph. ("second paragraph" is in the "Entry" box. "second paragraph" becomes "third paragraph" in the "Entry" box.) Click OK > Close. (The "Edit Index Entry" window closes.)

3. Right-click in the Table of Contents. Click Update Index/Table. (The entry is now "third paragraph" in the Table of Contents. To change "second paragraph" to third paragraph in your document, highlight "second paragraph" and type "third paragraph".)

4. Place the cursor immediately in front of the index entry in your document, third paragraph. Right-click. Click Index Entry. ("third paragraph" appears in the "Entry" box.) Click Delete.

5. The next Index Entry, "first paragraph" appears in the Entry box. Click Delete. (The "Edit Index Entry" window closes.)

6. Right-click in the Table of Contents. Click Update Index/Table. ("First paragraph and third paragraph" are no longer in the Table of Contents".)

Add Hyperlinks To The Table Of Contents

When a word(s) in the Table of Contents is clicked, the cursor will go to where that information is found. For example. “Add Hyperlinks to the Table of Contents” will be in the Table of Contents of this tutorial. When in the Table of Contents and the words “Add Hyperlinks to the Table of Contents” are clicked, the cursor will go to this section on this page.

If you have NOT inserted a Table of Contents

1. Click after the last word in the title of the document. (The Insert Index/Table window appears.) Select the Index/ Table tab, if it is not already selected. In the “Type” dialog box , select Table Of Contents, if it is not already selected. Uncheck Protected against manual changes. Click OK.
2. To make the hyperlinks, click the Entries tab of the window, click to the left of the F and click Hyperlink, and click after the F and click Hyperlink again. Click All. Click OK. (The "Table "of Contents appears. All the headings are in "blue and underlined" and are now "hyperlinks". When you click on them, you will be taken to that section.)

If you have already inserted the Table of Contents

1. Place the cursor anywhere in the Table of Contents and right-click. (A menu will appear,) Click Edit Index/table. (The Insert Index/Table window appears.)
2. To make the hyperlinks, click the Entries tab of the window, click to the left of the F and click Hyperlink, and click after the F and click Hyperlink again. Click All. Click OK.
3. After doing Step 2 , you will need to right-click in the Table of Contents and click Update Index/Table. Be careful not to click any of the hyperlinked text in the Table of Contents. Clicking on a blank space between the text and the page numbers is usually best. (The "Table "of Contents appears. All the headings are in "blue and underlined" and are now "hyperlinks". When you click on them, you will be taken to that section.)

Additional Help

There is additional information on the Table of Contents within OpenOffice in the OpenOffice.org Help. To access that information, do the following:

1. On the Menu Bar, click Help. (A menu appears.)

2. Click Contents. (The "OpenOffice.org Help” window appears.)

3. In the dialog box towards the top of the screen, select Help about OpenOffice.org Writer, if it is not already selected.

4. Click on the Index tab.

5. In the box, under the words, “Search term”, type the word, creating. Click table of contents. Click on the Display button (There will be several items listing under "creating". The Display button is located at the bottom right hand corner. Information about a Table Of Contents appears on the right side of the screen.)

6. Close the OpenOffice.org Help window. (Click on the X in the upper right corner of the "Help" window.)

Save File For Future Use

1. Click File > Save As.

2. In “File name:” box, type TOC_Lesson_1 . (The name of the file will be “TOC_Lesson_1" . "TOC_Lesson_1.odt" appears at the top of the screen.)

3. Click File > Close. (The document is no longer on the screen.)

NOTE

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