InDesign TOC Generates Duplicate Entries from Table Header Rows

Forum|Forum|12 days ago
March 24, 2026
3 replies
53 views

I’ve asked about this issue with duplicate entries in the table of contents before.
I figured out the cause: it’s because the table “doesn’t span pages or columns,” but the “Skip header row” setting is enabled.
As a result, duplicate entries appear in the table of contents.

Yes, if you just disable “Skip header row,” this problem won’t occur.
But in real-world work, layouts are constantly changing, and there are many tables—you can’t keep adjusting the settings over and over.

I wonder if the new 2026 version has fixed this bug.
Or if there’s a permanent solution.
Thanks

Correct answer Manan Joshi

@dublove This seems to me like a document corruption. When I recreate the TOC and choose to “Include Overset Text” in the TOC it creates duplicates. However, if I choose to not include the overset text the duplication is gone.

If I then export the INDD to IDML and try to update the TOC, the duplicates are gone irrespective of whether I choose to include or exclude the overset text.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

What version are you using? I cannot replicate the behavior in 2026.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

M

Manan Joshi

Community Expert

I am not sure I understand the Table part here. TOC entries are based on paragraph style applied on text. Now if you intend to say that the entry you refer to lies inside a table and since the entry is present in the header row as well as the body row and both are shown in the TOC. Then I suppose as per my understanding that is how TOC is designed, search the paragraph style asked for and add an entry.

-Manan

dubloveAuthor

Legend

Hi @Manan Joshi @Mike Witherell @Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Sorry, I didn't get around to creating a bug example in time.
I've uploaded the example now.
Please take a look.
My directory is on pages 01–12.
The main content starts on page 1.

The “City” and “Country” categories, along with their sub-entries, start repeating on page 06.

Content-2024.indd

M

Manan Joshi

Correct answer

Community Expert

@dublove This seems to me like a document corruption. When I recreate the TOC and choose to “Include Overset Text” in the TOC it creates duplicates. However, if I choose to not include the overset text the duplication is gone.

If I then export the INDD to IDML and try to update the TOC, the duplicates are gone irrespective of whether I choose to include or exclude the overset text.

-Manan

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Would it not be related to which paragraph styles you choose to use in the ToC generator and the tables?

Mike Witherell

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