how to make an index in a word document?

[Guest]

In Excel, there are tabs across the bottom for Sheet 1, Sheet 2, etc. Is
there anything similar for Word? I have a short story I'm writing, and I'd
like to be able to have each chapter separate yet easily accessible on one
document. I've tried using the table of contents feature, but it's a mess,
and not at all user-friendly. I've even thought of inserting Word files into
Excel, but that doesn't work either. Any suggestions?

 

[Jezebel]

No, there's nothing similar in Word. Make friends with the table of contents
feature. What do you find messy?

 

[Guest]

*sigh* I was afraid of that.

Well, for one thing, I can't jump from one chapter to another without going
all the way back to the top of page one.

I'm also stuck with all these headings sprinkled into my story that I don't
want to be in the finished product that I have to go through and delete if I
want to copy and paste sections anywhere or send a draft to someone else to
read because the headings are distracting and look unprofessional.

I forget the other problems I had with the table of contents because it's
been a while since I worked with it.

Do you know anything about the document map? Maybe that's what I'm looking
for...

 

[Jezebel]

Document map won't help. That works on headings, same as a TOC.

There are several other options. Probably simplest in this case is to start
a new section for each chapter. Then use F5 to jump to the section you want.
Then you wouldn't need chapter headings.

You could also format the heading at the start of each chapter with a style
that you set to Hidden for your final output.

Or define a bookmark for the start of each chapter, and similarly use F5.

Or put each chapter in its own document. Keep them all open, then use
Alt-Tab to switch between them. Less than ideal because you'd have whole set
of documents to manage, and unworkable if you have a lot of chapters.

 

[Guest]

Wow! That's a lot of suggestions! I think I'm gonna stick with the document
map for now. I like that it's in a side frame that I can click on from
anywhere. It's certainly not the best solution, but it'll do.

I wish there was a suggestion box or something to get them to add the tabbed
feature like Excel. That would be so much easier, especially for copying and
pasting entire sections. Nothing like using Select All, rather than trying
to highlight and scroll with a touchpad. Or maybe I'm just uncoordinated. =)

Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[Guest]

Wow! That's a lot of suggestions! I think I'm gonna stick with the document
map for now. I like that it's in a side frame that I can click on from
anywhere. It's certainly not the best solution, but it'll do.

I wish there was a suggestion box or something to get them to add the tabbed
feature like Excel. That would be so much easier, especially for copying and
pasting entire sections. Nothing like using Select All, rather than trying
to highlight and scroll with a touchpad. Or maybe I'm just uncoordinated. =)

Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

You can post a "Suggestion for Microsoft" in the Communities portal. But
similar suggestions have already been made; you might search for one and
vote for it.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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