Indentation or Markdown hashes detect level. Page numbers after pipe (|) are optional.
Default 72 for standard 8.5×11" page at 10pt mono. Min 40, max 100.
Dots between title and page number. Uncheck for plain alignment.
Adds Title, Abstract, Contents, etc. with lowercase roman numerals before the main body.
Paste or type headings on the left, or click "Load Example" to see the output here.
How to Read the Levels
The generator detects heading depth from either indentation or Markdown syntax, then normalizes jumps—a level-3 heading directly after level-1 becomes level-2, so no orphaned sections appear.
- Indentation: Each 2 spaces or 1 tab = one level deeper. Mix consistently across your input.
- Markdown: Use #, ##, ###, #### at the start of a line. The tool applies indentation rules even if you mix both styles in the same input.
- Page numbers (optional): End any line with
| 12to set its page number. Text after the pipe that isn't numeric is ignored. If you enable auto-increment mode, these explicit numbers are overridden.
Once parsed, the generator respects your max-depth setting—anything deeper is clipped—and normalizes the numbering so a new level-1 heading resets all deeper counters.
When to Use This vs. Word or Google Docs
Word and Google Docs can generate a table of contents automatically from your document's heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.). That method is powerful and updates page numbers as you write. Use your word processor's TOC feature if:
- Your heading styles are already set up and you want page numbers to update automatically as you revise.
- Your institution's template includes a TOC generator or macro.
- You are working in a collaborative shared document and need live formatting.
Use this tool instead if:
- You're working in plain text, LaTeX, or a Markdown editor before committing to a word processor.
- You want to preview your TOC layout without opening your full thesis document.
- You need to experiment with different numbering styles or page-layout conventions quickly.
- You are planning or outlining and haven't written all the content yet.
- Your document is in a format (PDF, legacy system, etc.) where you need to manually maintain the TOC.
Important: This tool produces plain text, not a live field. Page numbers are only as current as your input—you must update them by hand if your document changes. For a thesis, always consult your university's template and submission guidelines; the exact layout comes from your institution, not from this tool.
APA and Thesis TOC Conventions
APA 7th Edition: The Publication Manual does not require a table of contents for student research papers. Theses and dissertations, however, usually require one—but the format is set by your university's graduate school, not by APA.
Thesis conventions (most US universities):
- Front matter: Title page, abstract, dedication, acknowledgments, and the table of contents itself are traditionally numbered with lowercase roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, …) starting with the title page as page i (or sometimes starting the count from the first content page after cover). Enable the "Front Matter" checkbox to add placeholder entries.
- Body matter: The main chapters start with page 1 (arabic numerals). A new level-1 heading often signals a new chapter and the start of a new page.
- Dot leaders: The tradition of connecting title to page number with dots is standard in formal documents and theses. Most university templates include them.
Check your own graduate school handbook for the exact required order of front matter, numbering style, and indentation depth. Different institutions have different rules—some require decimal numbering (1.1, 1.2), others use chapter numerals only.
Anatomy of a TOC Entry
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I paste my heading list from my Word document?
Yes. Copy the heading names from your document and paste them into the textarea, one per line. If your Word headings use the Heading style definitions, you'll need to strip out the formatting—paste as plain text (Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows, or Edit → Paste Special → Unformatted Text on Mac). The generator then sees only the text and indentation you set manually.
What if a heading is longer than the line width?
Long headings are wrapped onto a continuation line indented under the number, with no leader dots on the wrapped portion. The page number stays right-aligned at the original column. This preserves numeric alignment across all entries.
Can I use a different numbering style for different sections?
Not with this tool—it applies one global style to all level-1 headings. If your university template requires mixed numbering (e.g., roman for front matter, then decimal for chapters), use the front-matter checkbox to generate the roman-numeral section separately, then copy the chapter section into your document manually and adjust numbering there.
Do I need to match the exact page numbers my thesis will have?
No. If you are drafting, leave page numbers off or use placeholders. Enable Auto-Increment mode to estimate layout based on a default pages-per-chapter count. Before final submission, update the input with your actual page numbers or re-run with corrected auto-increment settings. This tool produces plain text, not a live field, so you maintain it manually.
How do I adjust indentation in the output?
Indentation in the output comes directly from the heading level detected from your input (tabs or spaces, or Markdown #-count). To increase indent, add more leading spaces or # symbols to a heading in the input textarea. The "Maximum Depth" setting clips anything deeper but does not change indent width.
Can I download the output as a PDF?
The Download button saves plain text (.txt). To convert to PDF, open the text file in your word processor or browser and use Print to PDF. This gives you full control over fonts, margins, and headers.