How to Stop Word from Including Tables in the Table of Figures
Question details
The user wants to know why table captions are appearing in their document's Table of Figures and how to correct the index so it only displays figure captions.
- Product
- Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Generating a Table of Figures for a document that contains both images and tables.
- Observed behavior
- The generated Table of Figures incorrectly includes captions belonging to tables because it is indexing the general "Caption" style instead of exclusively indexing the "Figure" label.
Before recreating your index, ensure that you have correctly labeled all your images as 'Figure' and all your tables as 'Table' using the built-in Insert Caption tool.
Recreate the Table of Figures Using the 'Figure' Label
The most effective way to fix this issue is to configure the Table of Figures to only index items labeled as 'Figure' rather than picking up everything that uses the general 'Caption' style.
When inserting a Table of Figures, Word provides an option to base the index either on a specific caption label (like 'Figure' or 'Table') or on a Word Style. If it is based on the 'Caption' style, everything using that style will be included, regardless of whether it is an image or a table.
Highlight your current incorrect Table of Figures in your document and press the Delete key.
Navigate to the References tab on the ribbon and click on 'Insert Table of Figures'.
In the dialog box, locate the 'Caption label' dropdown menu in the bottom-left corner.
Select 'Figure' from the dropdown list, ensure that the Options button does not have 'Style' checked, and click 'OK' to insert the corrected index.
Verify Table Captions and Update the Field
If your Table of Figures is set up correctly but tables still appear, your tables might have accidentally been assigned the 'Figure' label.
Manage Captions and Tables of Figures Easily in WPS Writer
WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for managing complex document elements like tables of figures, tables of contents, and cross-references. You can easily categorize your captions to keep your indexes accurate and professional.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing your tables and figures.
- 2. Apply correct captions: Navigate to the 'References' tab and use 'Insert Caption' to properly label your tables as 'Table' and your images as 'Figure'.
- 3. Generate the index: Click 'Insert Table of Figures', choose 'Figure' from the Caption label dropdown, and click 'OK' to instantly generate a clean, accurate list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create a separate List of Tables in my document?
To create a list specifically for your tables, go to the References tab and click Insert Table of Figures. In the dialog box, change the 'Caption label' dropdown from 'Figure' to 'Table' and click OK. This generates an index exclusively for your table captions.
Why are my caption labels missing from the dropdown menu?
If you don't see 'Figure' or 'Table' in the caption label dropdown, the default labels may have been deleted, or you might be working in a document created in another language. You can recreate them by clicking 'Insert Caption', selecting 'New Label', and typing the exact label name you need.
Can I have both a Table of Contents and a Table of Figures in the same document?
Yes, they function completely independently. A Table of Contents indexes Heading styles (like Heading 1 and Heading 2), while a Table of Figures indexes specific caption labels. You can insert both from the References tab without them interfering with each other.
