Dot Leader Sporadically Missing from Table of Contents

Anonymous
2012-04-18T23:56:07+00:00

I am updating an automatic table of contents.  I'm using Word 2010.  There are dot leaders for each toc entry.  However, for several (but not all) of the new toc entries, the entry appears with the page number, but with no dot leader.  I've deleted the item and re-entered, re-formatted and done everything else I can think of and nothing works.  Help??

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Suzanne S Barnhill 279.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2012-05-22T18:43:08+00:00

Considering just the entries that are missing the period leaders, are those entries much shorter or longer than the other entries? Often this problem is a result of placement of tab stops in the relevant TOC style; in that case, however, the problem also results in page numbers being in the wrong place as well as lacking leaders. The situation arises when there is a tab stop (or hanging indent) fairly far to the right in the TOC style. A very short entry will stop short of this tab stop, and so the tab that should go to the right-aligned tab stop at the right margin (for the page numbers, with leader) instead stops at the first tab stop/hanging indent.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-05-09T03:27:52+00:00

    Hmm. I was able to resolve two of the TOC issues by changing the tabs on the Heading 1 and 4 Styles. There are still problems, but have been at this for 10 hours and need some ZZZZs. Thank you for sticking by me.

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  2. Stefan Blom 352.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-05-09T07:56:33+00:00

    I'm aware of that. But the tab stop for the page number is generated dynamically by the TOC field (at least unless you customize any other aspects of the TOC styles), which is why it's a good idea to verify that it is in the correct location.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-05-09T13:33:01+00:00

    Thank you for your help. I redid the document paying attention to all the guidance here; so far, so good. The only thing left is the dots before the first heading.  Then I have to drop some actual text in to see if the formatting from that document reacts with this formatting. I hope that will resolve the black box issue too.

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  4. Suzanne S Barnhill 279.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-05-09T14:09:51+00:00

    With the insertion point in one of the Level One entries, right-click and choose Paragraph... on the shortcut menu. In the Paragraph dialog, click Tabs... In the Tabs dialog, click on the tab stop that represents where the "Level One" entry begins (after the leader dots) and select the radio button for None under Leader. Click OK to close. All TOC 1 entries should be updated.

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