Document Editing Problems

How to Create Separate Tables of Figures and Tables for Document Sections in Word

WPS Editor Sep 25, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to generate separate lists of figures and tables for individual sections of a combined Word document.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Combining multiple documents into a single file and needing distinct reference tables (figures and tables) for each specific section.
Observed behavior: The user knows how to use the \b field switch for dividing tables of contents but requires the exact methodology to apply this to tables of figures and tables.

Before you start

Ensure that all figures and tables in your document are properly captioned using the References tab, and that you have identified the exact sections you want to separate.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Bookmarks and the \b Field Switch

By bookmarking individual document sections and modifying the table's field code with the \b switch, you can restrict a Table of Figures or Table of Tables to only pull captions from that specific section.

A Table of Figures is essentially a specialized Table of Contents field that references Figure or Table captions. Because it uses the same underlying field code structure as a TOC, the \b switch (which restricts the field to a specific bookmark) works exactly the same way.

Bookmark the document section

Highlight the entire text of the first section (including its figures and tables). Go to the Insert tab, click Bookmark, type a name without spaces (e.g., 'Section1'), and click Add.

Insert the Table of Figures

Place your cursor where you want the list to appear. Navigate to the References tab, click Insert Table of Figures, ensure the correct Caption label (Figure or Table) is selected, and click OK.

Reveal the field codes

Press Alt + F9 on your keyboard (or Fn + Alt + F9 on some laptops) to toggle the document view from results to field codes. The table you just inserted will change to look something like { TOC \h \z \c "Figure" }.

Add the \b switch to the field code

Click inside the bracketed field code. At the end of the code (before the closing bracket), type \b followed by a space and your bookmark name. For example: { TOC \h \z \c "Figure" \b Section1 }.

Update the field

Press Alt + F9 again to hide the field codes. Right-click on the Table of Figures (which may currently look unchanged or show an error), select Update Field, and choose 'Update entire table' if prompted. It will now only display figures from 'Section1'.

Repeat for additional sections: You must repeat this entire process for every section. Create a unique bookmark for the next section (e.g., 'Section2'), insert a new Table of Figures, and add \b Section2 to its field code.

Advanced Document Management

Easily Manage Complex Documents and Tables with WPS Writer

WPS Office provides a robust set of reference tools, allowing you to easily insert captions, create multiple tables of figures, and manage bookmarks for complex document structures using the exact same field codes you are already familiar with.

1. Open your combined document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx file containing the combined document sections.
2. Create Section Bookmarks: Navigate to the Insert tab, select the text for a specific section, and click Bookmark to define the area.
3. Insert Table of Figures: Go to the References tab and click Insert Table of Figures, choosing your desired caption label.
4. Modify Field Codes: Right-click the inserted table, choose Toggle Field Codes, and append \b [BookmarkName] to restrict the table to that specific section.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats, preserving all existing bookmarks and field codes.Easily insert and update tables of contents, figures, and tables for separate sections.Lightweight and fast, making it ideal for handling large, heavily formatted combined documents.Free to download and use with a highly intuitive user interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my table of figures say 'No table of figures entries found' after updating?

This error usually occurs if the bookmark name typed in the \b switch does not exactly match the bookmark you created, or if the bookmarked section does not contain any properly formatted captions for the label you specified.

Can I combine Figures and Tables into a single reference list?

By default, Word generates separate tables for different caption labels (e.g., one for Figures, one for Tables). To combine them, you would need to assign them the same caption label during creation, or use more advanced field code stringing which is generally not recommended for clean formatting.

How do I hide field codes if Alt + F9 isn't working?

If the shortcut isn't working, go to File > Options > Advanced. Scroll down to the 'Show document content' section and uncheck the box that says 'Show field codes instead of their values', then click OK.

Document & File Issues