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. Stefan Blom 352.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2015-05-22T22:33:19+00:00

    If you display the Tabs dialog box for the affected TOC level, the way Suzanne described it in her reply, then do you see a tab stop with a leader? You will have to click the tab stop in the dialog box to see its settings.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-05-22T22:09:38+00:00

    Suzanne:  I am having this exact same problem, but I don't know to set a tab stop about .25" or .5" to the right of the left indent of the TOC style.   You apparently know exactly what my problem is and how to fix it, but I can't follow your advice.   My assistant, who has been working with Word now for about 10  years also has no idea how to fix this problem.  I have been back and forth several times through this discussion, and still can't figure this out.  I apologize if I am asking you to repeat your answer, but could you tell us the steps (baby steps) to fix this problem in Word 2010?  We would greatly appreciate your help.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-04-08T16:50:08+00:00

    The first option above was a quick, easy solution to a single short TOC entry.

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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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