Word 2007 Heading styles with Multi-level outline numbering

[Legal Learning]

I want the following.

Multi-level outline numbering linked to styles.

1. Heading 1 Lead in text. laskd fjasldk fjasldkf jaslk jflaksd
fjlaksd fjalks dfjlask jflaskd jflaks fjlaskjflaksd

a. Lead in text for heading 2. asld kfajsldfk jasdlfka
sjdflkas jdflkasj dflkasj dflkasjdf

So on and so forth.

However, I want to generate a table of contents with only the lead in text
to appear in the table of contents. I know that in 2002 and 2003 we could
use the style separator. I have tried the default linked heading styles but
it doesn't work when linking the heading style to the multilevel list.

So, how do I link Heading 1 thru 9 to a multi-level list and
how do I create a table of contents using only the lead in text. (am I
stuck with the style separator still?)

 

[Legal Learning]

Thanks Pam,

I understand about the linked styles and that is a fabulous solution in Word
2007. Howveer, it doesn't work for me when I have outline numbering applied
to the heading style. Perhaps I am applying the numbering wrong. I
understand about the 2007 to 2003 and most of my clients are default saving
to 2003 because of their clients. It might be a while before anyone really
starts defaulting to saving as docx. Espcially law firms! )

Do you have any experience in linking the numbering to the heading styles?