Dear all,
Many years ago when Word was nearly all that was available (showing my computing age !), you could insert Table of Contents, cross references, and other ‘fields’ and could view them in situ where they would appear as a semi-transparent field representation of {XR: …} etc [Unsure as to the exact display syntax - dredging this up from my memory]. There doesn’t seem to be a similar method in LO Writer. I have turned on the View>Field Shadings and View>Field Names options but I get a green ‘blob’ and nothing else approaching what I would like to see. Is there a way to actually view what the field representation details are? Please note that I am taking about viewing each of the individual ToC entries etc, not the generated summary of the set that represents the document-wide Table of Contents. I am using LO v 7.5.2.2 for a 64 bit machine running on W10
Many thanks
ADB
The answer by Earnest AI was exactly what I was looking for - the details of what the field representation details reference and contain
Ajlittoz - your comments about the MS Word field mimics what I referenced in my secondary post and I do happen to know what a pilcrow is (as well as other publisher’s marks such as octothorpes, interrobangs and manicules) and your viewing may have unknowingly missed the screen display - which I did warn about: before the posted paragraph mark there is a small green rectangular ‘blob’ which I assume is supposedly to show an inserted detail but that blob does not contain any displayable details (unlike its MS Word equivalent), which is what I was asking about and to which EarnestAI posted a solution to my OP
Despite my accepting EarnestAI’s solution, IMO is beyond his remit to ask why I want to see the fields - just accept that it is a solution that I am looking for.
[SOLVED]`See posts below
I am not sure to understand exactly your question.
There are two display modes for fields:
-
View>Field Namesticked: shows the field name with a background ifShadingsis activated -
View>Field Namesunticked: shows the field value again with a background ifShadingsis activated
These two modes are exclusive of each other.
Regarding the TOC, each “line” is an entry value. By default, each entry comes from an Heading n paragraph which is decorated with various auxiliary data (page number, leading line, chapter number, fixed text insertion, … Of course, you can augment TOC entries with other sources if you configure it so in Insert>TOC & Index>TOC, Index or Bibliography.
How a TOC entry is built is controlled by the Entries tab of the above mentioned menu command. This is where you can customise entries by modifying the order of elements, apply various character styles, add fixed text between dynamic elements, …
To summarise:
- TOC entry source is a complete paragraph, usually a Heading n
- entry structure can be adapted to your needs through configuration
- entries in TOC are “monolithic”: they are synthesised by Writer and cannot be split or otherwise altered (in fact you can but the modifications will be erased at next update
If this doesn’t answer your question, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification or improve your question (which is editable).
{ TOC \c “Tables” }
[I hope that you can see the image above - the green blob]
The top of this post is the sort of thing that I was talking about that appears in a Word document when you can view the relevant fields.
The green blob is what I get in LO. I have tried all 4 combinations of view>Field Shadings and View>Field Names on and off but I do not see what I wish.
Back from a professional trip, so forgive the delay.
Your {TOC \c "Tables"} looks like a M$ Word field. You won’t get a similar display in LO Writer. The full TOC will be listed on a gray background (if you didn’t customise the UI). The gray background does not print. It is there only to remind you this text was not manually typed but internally generated by Writer. There is no field name associated with a TOC.
In Writer, a TOC is created with Insert>TOC & Index>TOC, Index or Bibliography.
What you call a “green blob” is one of the numerous visual clues to get an idea about what’s going on. It is called a pilcrow and denotes a paragraph break. It doesn’t print as well.
I recommend you keep these clues enabled. But if you really don’t like them (note they help to understand formatting problems and debug your document), disable View>Formatting Marks. Preferentially, don’t do that. It is much better to know what LO Writer understood about your typing.
What is the purpose for wanting to see the fields? I feel the correct question to give you your desired answer hasn’t been asked yet if ajlitoz’s first comment does not help.
For reusing the links the menu Insert > Field > More Fields > Cross-references > Headings gives access to the links the TOC is normally built from.