OmniDocHow to cancel and manually modify the table of contents hyperlink in Word
Explain how to cancel the hyperlink in Word directory, how to manually modify a single link, and the differences between the three methods: turning off the hyperlink and regenerating it, modifying the field code, and converting it to ordinary text, and attaches the verification method after the modification.
Key points of this article
- If you just want to remove click jumps, retain page numbers and automatic updates, regenerate the table of contents and turn off the hyperlink option, the entire table of contents can be completed at once.
- When individual entries point to errors, use Alt+F9 to display the field code, and only modify or delete the HYPERLINK field of that entry, with a small scope of change.
- After pressing Ctrl+Shift+F9 to convert the table of contents to ordinary text, the link and automatic update functions will be lost, and it is only suitable for finalized files.
- The table of contents text needs to be modified from the title. Change the word in the table of contents directly. It will be overwritten the next time you press F9 to update.
You can click on the entries in the Word table of contents to jump directly to the corresponding chapters. This is the hyperlink that comes with the table of contents. But sometimes this jump is not needed: printing out the manuscript, converting it to PDF and giving it to others, or just want to make the table of contents look cleaner. Others find that a certain link points to the wrong location and want to change it manually, but don't know where to start.
This article is written for those who have generated a table of contents and want to cancel or modify hyperlinks. How to cancel the hyperlink of the table of contents in word. The key is to distinguish two things first: whether to only remove the jump and retain the automatic update function of the table of contents, or to completely turn the table of contents into ordinary text. The two operations are different, and whether they can be updated later is also different. After reading, you will be able to judge which method to use, and know how to check after making changes.
How to cancel the directory hyperlink or change it manually? One sentence conclusion
If you just want to remove the click jump, regenerate the table of contents and turn off the hyperlink option; if only individual entries point to errors, display the field code and then modify that one; only when the table of contents is finalized and no longer needs to be updated, convert it to ordinary text.
| your situation | Recommended practices | reason |
|---|---|---|
| Do not click to jump to the entire table of contents, but keep the page numbers and automatic updates. | Regenerate the table of contents and turn off hyperlink related options | Page numbers and directory structure are retained, only links are removed |
| Only a few links point to errors | Display the field code, modify or delete the HYPERLINK field of the article | The scope of the change is small and other items will not be affected. |
| The table of contents has been finalized and the title will not be changed in the future. | Select the directory and press Ctrl+Shift+F9 to convert to normal text | Operation completes once, but cannot F9 update afterwards |
| The title has been changed and the text on the table of contents is incorrect. | Modify the text title and then update the table of contents | Table of contents text is generated from the title and will be overwritten if changed directly. |
| Do you want the color or underline of the directory to disappear? | Modify table of contents style or hyperlink character style | It’s less troublesome than adjusting item by item. Just change one place. |
Before you start: Confirm these points first
- Confirm whether the directory is generated by the domain. Click on the directory. If the entire block is gray or can be updated by pressing F9, it means it is automatically generated. You can use the following method. If the table of contents is typed out manually and the hyperlink is added separately, just select it and delete it.
- Determine whether the title will be changed later. If you can change it, don't convert it to ordinary text, otherwise you will have to rearrange the directory every time you modify it.
- Confirm the purpose of the file. If you want to print or give it to others, it is more appropriate to remove the link; if you are reading on the screen, the link is usually useful, you can just remove the color and underline, and keep the jump.
- Back up first. It is easy to accidentally delete characters when modifying the field code. Save a copy before operating. You can directly change it back if something goes wrong.
- Pay attention to the content of other dependent domains. Similar fields are also used in cross-references, chart captions, and bookmarks. Inadvertent deletion will affect these places, so check them together after making changes.
Steps to modify a single directory hyperlink in Word
- Backup files. Save another copy and add words such as "before modification" to the file name for easy identification.
- Display field code. Place the cursor in the directory and press Alt+F9 to toggle display of field codes. Table of contents entries become fields with curly braces, and hyperlinks are typically written as HYPERLINK, followed by \l and a bookmark starting with _Toc.
- Locate the item to be changed. Find the entry pointing to the error and confirm the bookmark it refers to. The bookmark itself doesn't have to be memorized, you just need to know which paragraph it belongs to.
- Modify or delete the link. If you only want to remove the jump of this item, delete the HYPERLINK field outside it and keep only the displayed text and page number; if you want to change the pointing, change the bookmark to the bookmark corresponding to the correct title. The bookmark must actually exist, otherwise the link will become invalid.
- Switch back to normal display. Press Alt+F9 again to check whether the text and page number of this line are normal, and whether there are any extra or missing characters.
- Update directory. Press F9 to update the domain. Note that when updating, the table of contents will be regenerated based on the title, and manually modified content will be overwritten. Therefore, if there is a problem with the title, the title should be changed instead of the table of contents.
📊 Core comparison
| practice | Click to jump | page number | Can I update via F9 later? | Suitable for the scene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regenerate after turning off the hyperlink option | Cancel | reserve | able | Do not jump to the entire table of contents, but the manuscript will be revised. |
| Modify a single field code | Only cancel or redirect those items | reserve | able | There is a problem with some items |
| Press Ctrl+Shift+F9 to convert to normal text | Cancel | become static text | cannot | Documents that will not be changed after finalization |
Check each item after completion
| Check items | How to see | What to do if there is a problem |
|---|---|---|
| Will clicking on the item still jump? | Ctrl-click a directory entry | If it still jumps, it means that the option is not turned off or it is not regenerated. Go back to the settings and do it again. |
| Is the page number consistent with the text? | Turn to several chapters and compare the page numbers | If there is a deviation in the page number, press F9 to update the table of contents, and then check whether the paging has changed. |
| Is the table of contents text consistent with the title? | Compare titles in the table of contents and text | If it is inconsistent, update the table of contents after modifying the text title. Do not change the table of contents directly. |
| Whether other fields were deleted by mistake | Press Alt+F9 to browse the full text | If accidental deletion is found, undo the operation or replace it with a copy before modification. |
| Export to PDF or print the effect | View directory colors and underlines after exporting | There is still a blue underline, modify the table of contents style or hyperlink character style |
| Can the catalog continue to be updated? | Press F9 after selecting the directory | No response, the description has been converted to ordinary text, and the directory needs to be regenerated. |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Will the page numbers be lost after canceling the table of contents hyperlink?
Won't. Turning off the hyperlink option only removes the jump, the page number is still displayed as it is, and it can be updated as the content changes by pressing F9 afterwards.
2. What is the difference between Ctrl+Shift+F9 and turning off the hyperlink option?
Ctrl+Shift+F9 will convert the fields of the table of contents into ordinary text, which will not be automatically updated afterwards, and the page numbers will no longer follow the changes in the content. Turning off the hyperlink option only removes the jump, and the table of contents is still automatically generated.
3. The directory text has been changed and then changed back after updating. What should I do?
The table of contents text is generated from the title and will be updated based on the title. You should modify the headings in the text and then press F9 to update the table of contents.
4. After copying the directory to another document, the link fails. Why?
The directory jump relies on the bookmarks in the original document. Only the directory text is copied to the new file, and the jump is usually unavailable. The table of contents should be regenerated by title in the new file.
5. Can directory hyperlinks be canceled in batches?
Can. If you turn off the hyperlink option when regenerating the directory, the jump will be removed from the entire directory entries at once, and there is no need to process them one by one.
📝 Summary
How to cancel the hyperlink of the word table of contents. In most cases, it is enough to regenerate the table of contents and turn off the hyperlink option. Page numbers and automatic updates can be retained. Only when individual entries point to errors, you need to use Alt+F9 to display the field code and modify it one by one. After modification, remember to press F9 to update and check the page number.
