How to Align Page Numbers in the Table of Contents

[saxtonstudio]

What am I doing / not doing to cause the page numbers to fall on the second line? I seem to recall something about adding tab settings...? (Another thread I saw suggeated "right indent tab" after the Between Entry and Number, but that didn't change things.) Two screenshots attached for reference.

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Willi Adelberger]

Do not use a tabulator and a stop for those numbers, use a right aligned tabulator instead. When you write you would write shift-tabulator, in the dialog of the toc setup it is represented with a y instead of the t. ^t > ^y. 

[saxtonstudio]

I must be doing it wrong. When I put in ^t > ^y I got two lines before the number (see screenshot). I'm not using the tab function at all - trying to set it all up in the TOC style box. 

ALSO, two more related issues:

1. TOC comes in indented. I don't want that. 

2. Style used for chapters (which drives the TOC numbering) has an 18 pt. leading, and that is being translated here so I have to manually bring up each line. Not a smart way to do this I'm sure!

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

The format of the TOC is entirely controlled by the paragraph styles you assign to it. All you can assign in the TOC setup is the structure — i.e. where a tab goes, etc. — but not the line spacing or formatting.

Create a separate TOC style (you would need one per hierarchical level, but let's assume just one level). Assign that to your TOC entries. Use a simple right-align tab before the page number. Generate your TOC.

Now adjust the TOC style to position and format everything as you like — indent, no indent, font, spacing, tabs, etc.

[Willi Adelberger]

Use ^y, not ^t

Don't use a tabulator stop!

[saxtonstudio]

Got it! I didn't realize you meant use ONLY the ^y but that solved the numbers alignment issue.  Thanks, Willi!

Now I'll try to format the other aspects per James, although it sounds a little intimidating. 

[Willi Adelberger]

I use the means of nested styles, character styles with  dotted strokes and last line right intend.

It might help you, I have created a book and this TOC

https://www.dropbox.com/t/XG5hVG9IBM15JHBl

[saxtonstudio]

Thank you, I've downloaded! I have to jump on another deadline, but will be reviewing this whole TOC formatting at some point today and will probably have more questions for you. 😉

[saxtonstudio]

Willi. I very much appreciate your sample, and tried to follow for my simpler TOC. However, yet again, I must be doing something wrong because it looks great but the page numbers aren't updating and the "update Table of Contents" option under Layout is grayed out. Help!

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

If you don't have a generated and placed TOC, you won't have an Update TOC option. Delete any existing TOC text frame and start again, using TOC and placing the new text frame where you want it. As long as it's there (and to make sure, put the cursor in it before you go to the update menu) the Update TOC option should be available.

Note that ID supports more than one TOC, as long as you give each one a distinct "style" name, and I believe, then, you have to place the cursor in the desired TOC to be able to update it.

[saxtonstudio]

Willi, I've got the TOC format worked out  – but I'm now trying to add a sequential number before each title, so I thought your sample here might hold the answer! But I'm not getting it right. Maybe I have the steps out of order. Maybe I'm not nesting. Not styling properly. I could use some step by step guidance. The end result (attached) looks like it should be simple enough, but I'm feeling lost. 

[Peter Spier]

Your paragraph style will have to be a mubered list, or you willhave to include the number in the text in the body of the book, or you can add the  numbers by hand.

[saxtonstudio]

Thanks, Peter! Ill give those a go and report back later!

[Peter Spier]

Best bet I think is  the numbered list approach. Just add it to the TOC Paragraph style for listings you want numbered.

With multiple styles you can do multi-level numbering if required.

[saxtonstudio]

Thanks, Peter! I had tried making the paragraph style a numbered list but it makes the content fly off to someplace I can't see (creating a million new text boxes). I assume this was caused by the code after "Number" (see attached screenshot). I don't know how to implement correctly. You probably do?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@saxtonstudio

You should type "^#^t" - not "^1^t" - just in case. 

Can you post screenshot of "flying off"? 

[Peter Spier]

Actually, numbered lists are not one of my stronger suits and without seeingyour document I can't really offer much more. I think @Robert at ID-Tasker or @James Gifford—NitroPress is probably going to be more help.

[saxtonstudio]

Okay, I appreciate your trying. Here's the latest if ayone else is paying attention. I've attached a screenhsot of "flying off", which happens with the  "^#^t" setting. Then somehow, it got to ^1  (does that make sense?), and numbers actually appeared – but there's no space between number and title (screenshot attached).  

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@saxtonstudio

So do you have "^1" or "^1^t"?

[saxtonstudio]

It's definitely ^1. (Screenshot attached). Just tried ^1^t and everything flew away again, so I put it back to ^1.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

It's definitely ^1. (Screenshot attached). Just tried ^1^t and everything flew away again, so I put it back to ^1.

By @saxtonstudio

"^1" means just the number - maybe you have the same problem as before - TOC overset? 

[saxtonstudio]

Hmmm... I'll have to read through to see what we did before. (BTW, thank God for you guys. This makes my head spin.) 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@saxtonstudio

Sorry, I've mixed up your problem with someone's else:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/last-toc-entry-hidden-in-overset-text/td-p/14887...

[saxtonstudio]

No problem! I imagine that can happen. I'm still stuck, of course. Need to eat. Will check back in a bit to see if you know what I should do. 😉 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

No problem! I imagine that can happen. I'm still stuck, of course. Need to eat. Will check back in a bit to see if you know what I should do. 😉 

By @saxtonstudio

I think you should contact that other person for a detailed explanation of what was the fix.