TOC does not display anything except title of the TOC

[SEASCAPE]

This is the most frustrating problem!  Have spent almost 2 days on this.  I've created 4 documents:

1. A Fonts Doc (FD) where I created ALL fonts in this project.  The other 3 Docs imported their paragraph styles from this Fonts doc.

2.  A one page doc (D1) which contains entries from 3 paragraph styles, P1,P2,P3

3. A one page dco (D2) which cantains entries from e different paragraph styles, P4,P5,P6

4. A table of contents page (TOC).

Remember--D1,D2, and TOC had their font sets imported from FD.

I created a TOC for the TOC page.

The TOC included all 6 paragraph styles and a TOC PageTitle Style.

I did check "Include Book Documents".

I also saved each document and the book (I created a book BK from TOC, D1, and D2).

I synced the book.

I always "Update the Toc.

NOTHING displays in the TOC except the Title of the TOC page.

Here's a link to a screen capture showing most of the settings.

Any help greatly appreciated!

Bty, Chrome, Windows 10 Pro

[Barb Binder]

Hi Seascape:

The screen shot would be great, but it didn't show up. Use this button to add it to your reponse:

~Barb

[Derek Cross]

To post a screen shot use the "Insert Image" facility.

[Barb Binder]

I know you said you did all this, but here's what I'd be looking for:

1. Does your book .indb file list TOC, D1, D2? Is it saved?
2. In the TOC InDesign .indd file:
   1. After you select Layout > Create Table of Contents do the paragraphs P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 appear in the list under the heading Include Paragraph Styles? Do any variations of those names still appear in the left column under the heading Other Styles? A common issue is using different folders for the paragraph tags in different files.
   2. Is Include Book Documents checked, and does the correct book name appear to the right of that command in parentheses?
   3. Is Replace Table of Contents checked?

~Barb

[SEASCAPE]

Yes to all your questions, Barb.  I've been very careful to update the toc, save the bookfile, sync the book file, etc.  I'm very obsessive about that.  I'm sorry about the screen capture:  here's a corrcet link:  Capture — imgbb.com

Please note that what I've referred to as P1, P2, P3, etc in my example are actually C1, C2, C3, etc in the screen shot of the real book.

As you can see, in "Other Styles", all of the styles have been move to the "Include Paragraph Styles" window. 

I'm here for the rest of the afternoon so please let me know if there is any other info you need.  Thank you!

[Barb Binder]

Are you comfortable packaging the book and putting it on dropbox so that I can take a look? You can put the link here (public or message me (private).

~Barb

[SEASCAPE]

Yes!  Pls give me a few mins!

[Barb Binder]

Wait. Can you show me the Styles panel in the document files?

[SEASCAPE]

You should have the files now.  Just let me know if you still need to see a Styles panel.

[SEASCAPE]

I've discovered another issue which may be the problem!  In the Styles Window of the toc window, I did not add "Basic Paragraph".  I added it just now and it did render the paragraph styles in the first Document (DOC for Chapts 13).  In order to make this easier to understand I'm including a screen shot of each of the four  pages.

FONTS PAGE used to create the fonts:  fonts — imgbb.com  (used ONLY to create the fonts, which could be imported from other docs)

TOC page:  TOC — imgbb.com   (now showing 3 lines of correct paragraph styles from DOC for Chapts 1-3)

DOC for Chapts 1-3   doc 1 — imgbb.com

DOC for Chapts 4-6   doc 2 — imgbb.com

I need to take a closer look at that Basic Paragraph situation.  That should not be included under "Include Paragraph Styles", right?

[Barb Binder]

Ok, have an answer. The sample chapter names are there, the paragraph tag names are there, but they aren't matched up.

All the titles are using [Basic Paragraph]. Assign C1 to all three (you don't need for for each) and off you go!

[SEASCAPE]

I'm lost in the terminology.  Just to be clear and to make sure there is no file corruption, I've just created a very simple book containing only 2 Docs and a TOC page.  Sorry to prolong this, but would you please look at these files and send me my configuration mistake again?

BARB 2 - Google Drive  

[SEASCAPE]

Our messages are a little out of sync.  In the 1st book I sent you, I did make the paragraph styles (of the Title lines) in each Doc what they should be, not Basic Paragraph style.

Please look at the 2nd book and let's only use it.

[Barb Binder]

No worries! You absolutely understood what I said (both parts) and fixed it. The TOC generated on the first try—after I checked Include Book Documents, which was off in the TOC file.

~Barb

P.S. You must be getting stuck in the Moderation queue, and that's why we are out of sync. I'll keep an eye over there to move you through. This answer showing you fixed this issue pertains to the very last files you sent me

[SEASCAPE]

HOORAY !!!   I got it!  Now I can begin work on my real TOC, which has multiple Sections, Pages, and Subtitles.  I may need some help later on, but maybe not.  Thank you for your great help!

DESIRED LAYOUT — imgbb.com

[Barb Binder]

Yay!

And for the desired layout, I'd set up three paragraph styles for the heads that go in the TOC. Something like:

1. Section Name (for Leaders, Luminaries and Local Residents)
2. Chapter Number (for the chapter numbers)
3. Chapter Title (for the applications)

My tip is to work on chapter 1 and get the TOC working before moving on to the other chapters. And to take advantage of automatic chapter numbers, make each chapter its own file. Some will have section Names and some won't but all will have Chapter Numbers and Chapter Titles.

Glad I could help, and as you have more questions it's best to start a new thread unless it is TOC specific.

~Barb

[SEASCAPE]

Thanks again Barb! I'm pretty sure some situations will pop up, so I'll try to reach you if necessary.

[SEASCAPE]

Barb, my TOC is behaving properly, but there is no separation between the paragraph styles when they are rendered. How can I separate, say, Section Titles, Chapter Titles, and Chapter Subtitles?

And should I post additional questions that are TOC related in this string, or start a new discussion?

[Barb Binder]

That one is fine here. If the text was added as three separate paragraphs in the .indd files, for example:

Leaders¶

Chapter 1¶

Photoshop¶

then it sounds like Run-in is checked at the bottom of the TOC dialog box. Uncheck it and try again.

~Barb

[SEASCAPE]

I had the text on in 2 separate docs.  I've just now placed 2 lines in just one text box and there is still no separation.  The run in option defaults to not checked.

[Barb Binder]

You need to add vertical spacing values before and/or after to your paragraph styles.

~Barb

[SEASCAPE]

What is a "vertical spacing value"?  Is it the "Leading" spec?

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

You can define Space before and after on the Control panel:

Or in Paragraph Style Options:

Leading is the spacing between lines of text. For more details on spacing controls, see Apply leading in InDesign​ and Format paragraphs in Adobe InDesign.

~Barab

[Anna Lander]

Hi, I have a (maybe) strange question. Do the paragraph styles contain Start Paragraph = New <Frame, Page etc.>?
Did you think to create the new (text) styles for your TOC entry?

[SEASCAPE]

I selected [Same Style] for Entry Style on each one.  I'm not sure if that's what you are asking!