Formatting Issues

Fix Word Table of Contents Not Including All Tables

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user's Table of Tables or Table of Contents in a Word document is omitting certain tables, specifically those located in a newly added appendix, despite the use of TC (Table of Contents entry) fields.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Updating a document's reference tables after inserting new tables into an appendix section.
Observed behavior: Newly added tables in the appendix fail to appear in the generated Table of Tables or Table of Contents.

Before you start

Ensure your document is saved before making bulk field updates, and turn on the 'Show/Hide ¶' toggle (Ctrl+*) so you can inspect hidden TC fields.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Document Fields and Verify TC Codes

Force Word to refresh all fields in the document and ensure the Table of Contents entries are properly tagged with matching identifiers.

Often, tables are omitted simply because the document's fields have not been refreshed since the new content was added, or because the manual TC codes lack the correct switch identifiers.

Select the Entire Document

Click anywhere inside your document and press Ctrl+A on your keyboard to highlight all content.

Update All Fields

Press the F9 key to update all fields. If a prompt appears asking how you want to update the Table of Contents, choose 'Update entire table' and click OK.

Inspect the Appendix Tables

Navigate to the newly added appendix. Turn on hidden characters by pressing Ctrl+Shift+8, and check that each table has a correctly formatted TC (Table of Contents entry) field next to it.

Verify Identifier Matches

Ensure that the identifier within the TC field (such as the \f switch) matches the identifier used by your main Table of Tables.

Hidden Text Visibility: TC fields are formatted as hidden text by default. You must enable hidden text visibility to see and edit them.

Solution 2

Submit the Document for Technical Analysis

If updating fields does not resolve the missing entries, the document structure or styles may be corrupted, requiring deeper investigation.

Easily Manage Tables of Contents with WPS Writer

WPS Office provides a highly compatible and intuitive word processor that makes generating and updating Tables of Contents and Figures effortless. It seamlessly handles Microsoft Word documents, including advanced field codes.

1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document.
2. Access the References Tab: Click on the 'References' tab located on the top ribbon.
3. Insert Table of Figures: Click on 'Insert Table of Figures' or 'Table of Contents' depending on your requirements.
4. Configure and Generate: Select your desired formatting options and click 'OK' to generate a complete list of your tables.
5. Update with a Click: Whenever you add a new table, simply right-click the generated list and select 'Update Field' to refresh the entries instantly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and field codes.Intuitive Reference tab for quick insertion of Table of Contents and Table of Figures.Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office.Easy management of styles and captions to prevent missing appendix entries.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my appendix tables missing from the Table of Tables?

This usually happens because the tables in the appendix are missing the correct caption style, lack the appropriate TC field, use an unmatched identifier switch, or the document fields haven't been refreshed since the tables were added.

How do I make hidden TC fields visible in Word?

Go to the Home tab and click the Show/Hide ¶ button, or press Ctrl+Shift+8 (Ctrl+*). This reveals hidden formatting symbols, including your TC field codes.

What is a TC field in a document?

A TC (Table of Contents Entry) field is a hidden text code used to manually flag specific text so that it gets included into a Table of Contents or Table of Figures when standard heading or caption styles are not sufficient.

How do I force an update of my Table of Contents?

Click anywhere inside the Table of Contents or Table of Tables, then press the F9 key. If prompted, select 'Update entire table' to ensure newly added items are fetched.

Document & File Issues