Document Editing Problems

How to Include TC Fields in a Word Table of Contents Within a Bookmark

Elise Williams Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to generate a Table of Contents (TOC) restricted to a specific bookmarked range that incorporates both standard heading styles and custom TC (Table of Contents Entry) fields.

How to Include TC Fields in a Word Table of Contents Within a Bookmark

Product: Word / WPS Writer
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a localized or section-specific Table of Contents using a bookmark while needing to manually insert specific text entries into that TOC using TC fields.
Observed behavior: The Table of Contents successfully updates to show standard heading styles within the bookmark, but fails to display the additional TC fields despite containing both the bookmark (\b) and TC field (\f) switches.

Before you start

Ensure that all your custom TC fields are physically placed inside the exact text range defined by your bookmark, and enable 'Show/Hide Paragraph Marks' (Ctrl+*) so you can see hidden field codes.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Bookmark Range and Update Combined TOC Field Switches

Fix the TOC field code to correctly combine the bookmark switch (\b) and the TC field switch (\f), and ensure the TC fields are strictly enclosed within the designated bookmark.

A common reason TC fields do not appear in a bookmarked TOC is that the TC field itself was inadvertently placed just outside the bookmark's boundaries. The TOC \b switch strictly limits the search to the bookmarked text.

Toggle field codes visibility

Press Alt+F9 on your keyboard to reveal all field codes in your document, allowing you to see exactly where your TOC and TC fields are located.

Verify the TC field location

Check your document to ensure that your specific `{ TC "Your Entry Text" }` fields are located inside the highlighted text range of the bookmark (e.g., inside the 'TOC1TEXT' bookmark).

Edit the TOC field code

Locate your main Table of Contents field code and ensure it is formatted to include both switches. Edit it to look like this: `{ TOC \b TOC1TEXT \o "1-2" \f \h }`.

Update the document fields

Press Ctrl+A to select the entire document, then press F9 to update all fields. Select 'Update entire table' when prompted to rebuild the Table of Contents.

Verify Bookmark Range and Update Combined TOC Field Switches

Hide Field Codes: Once your Table of Contents updates correctly, press Alt+F9 again to hide the field codes and return to the normal document view.

Solution 2

Create Separate Tables of Contents for Headings and TC Fields

If combining the switches continues to cause errors, you can create two adjacent tables of contents as a workaround—one for the heading styles within the bookmark and another exclusively for the TC fields.

Advanced Document Formatting

Easily Manage Tables of Contents and Field Codes in WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides comprehensive and intuitive support for advanced field codes, including TOC, TC, and bookmarks. You can seamlessly create custom tables of contents using standard field syntax with ease.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document where you need to create the section-specific Table of Contents.
2. Define your bookmark: Highlight the section of text you want to include, go to the 'Insert' tab, and click 'Bookmark' to define your range.
3. Insert the fields: Use 'Insert' > 'Quick Parts' > 'Field' to add your custom TOC and TC field codes into the document.
4. Update the table: Right-click the generated Table of Contents and select 'Update Field' to refresh and display your custom entries.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word field codes (TOC, TC, MACROBUTTON, etc.).Intuitive Bookmark manager for creating section-specific indexes easily.Lightweight software with robust advanced document formatting features.Completely free to use for daily document processing and editing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my TC fields not showing up in the Table of Contents?

TC fields will not appear if your main TOC field lacks the \f switch. Additionally, if you are using the \b switch to restrict the TOC to a bookmark, any TC fields placed physically outside that specific bookmark range will be ignored. Always remember to select the TOC and press F9 to update it after adding new fields.

How do I view hidden TC field codes in my document?

TC fields are formatted as hidden text by default so they don't print. To view them, click the 'Show/Hide Editing Marks' button (the paragraph symbol) on the Home tab, or press Ctrl+Shift+8. To see the actual code rather than the text, press Alt+F9.

What does the \h switch do in a TOC field?

The \h switch formats the Table of Contents entries as clickable hyperlinks. This allows readers to jump directly to the referenced section when they click the entry in a digital document, such as a PDF or on-screen Word file.

Can I use different outline levels for different TC fields?

Yes. You can assign a specific outline level to a TC field by adding the \l (level) switch inside the TC field itself. For example, `{ TC "My Entry" \l 2 }` will place that specific entry at heading level 2 in the generated Table of Contents.

Document & File Issues