Generate and maintain a table of contents

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to create and update a table of contents (TOC) in Adobe InDesign so headings, page numbers, and document changes stay accurate.

A TOC pulls entries directly from your document, making it easy to keep headings and page numbers up to date. Use it to list chapters, sections, illustrations, or other content with page numbers. Each TOC is a separate story that updates when regenerated, and you can create multiple TOCs in the same document.

Before you begin

Use consistent paragraph styles and make sure book files are in the correct order.
If creating a TOC for a single document, add a new page where it should appear. For book files, create or open the TOC document and ensure it's included in the book.

Generate the TOC

Select Layout > Table of Contents.

From the TOC Style drop-down menu, choose the style you created, then type a name in the Title field and choose a paragraph style from the Style drop-down menu to format the title.

In the Other Styles list, double-click each paragraph style you want to include in the TOC to move it to the Include Paragraph Styles list. For each included style, select an Entry Style to define how entries appear.

Select the Page Number drop-down menu to specify how page numbers appear. Specify page number settings: choose how page numbers appear from the Page Number drop-down menu, then select After Entry, Before Entry, or No Page Number.

Choose a character style from the Style drop-down menu to format page numbers.

Select a character type from Between Entry and Numbers, then choose a character style to apply between entries and numbers.

Select the default Tab Character (^) to use tab leader settings in paragraph styles. Then select spacing styles from the Style drop-down menu.

Select Replace Existing Table of Contents to update an existing TOC or deselect it to create an additional TOC.

Select Save Style to reuse these settings, then select OK.

Select anywhere in the document to place the TOC on the page. Each TOC is placed in its own text frame, so you can format, move, or manage it independently. Avoid threading TOC frames with other text frames, as replacing a TOC will replace the entire threaded story.

Update the table of contents

Open the document or book that contains the TOC.

Edit content in your document or book files as needed.

Select the TOC text frame.

Select Layout > Update Table of Contents. Any manual edits made directly in the TOC are overwritten when you update it.

If your document contains multiple TOCs, select each TOC text frame then choose Layout > Update Table of Contents.

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