Crafting a Table of Contents in InDesign: A Breezy Walkthrough
In this article, we explore various alternatives to Adobe InDesign for creating a table of contents (TOC). While Adobe InDesign is a popular choice for layouts like e-books, brochures, and long-form content, there are other options available that cater to different needs, workflows, and preferences.
| Alternative Platform | TOC Creation Approach | Key Features | |----------------------|----------------------|--------------| | **Scribus** (Open-source desktop publishing) | Scribus supports manual TOC creation by using text frames and styles. You can create section headers with paragraph styles and then manually compile a TOC, or use scripts/plugins to automate TOC generation. It offers precise layout control similar to InDesign but requires more manual setup. | - Free and open-source
- Professional layout control
- Supports detailed typography
- Steeper learning curve but powerful | | **Lucidpress** (Cloud-based design and publishing) | Lucidpress provides templates and style options that facilitate TOC creation, especially for collaborative projects. You can use text boxes and links to pages or sections. It’s user-friendly for teams and includes intuitive layouts but may require manual TOC management. | - Cloud-based, collaborative
- Intuitive, InDesign-like layout
- Multiple templates
- Some advanced features paid | | **Canva** (Cloud-based graphic design tool) | Canva does not have automated TOC generation but lets you create one visually using text boxes and hyperlinks in digital PDFs. Best for simple TOCs in brochures or ebooks where interactive links are desired. | - Easy drag-and-drop
- Multiple templates
- Can create clickable TOC entries in PDFs | | **Microsoft Word / Google Docs** | These word processors allow automatic TOC creation based on heading styles. Though less sophisticated than InDesign, they are excellent for text-heavy documents and simple TOCs, which can then be converted to PDFs or other formats. | - Automatic TOC generation
- Heading styles support
- Widely accessible | | **Figma** (UI/UX design and prototyping) | While Figma doesn’t have an automatic TOC feature, you can design a TOC as a frame with linked elements to different pages or components. Ideal for digital interactive documents but requires manual setup. | - Cloud-based collaborative design
- Interactive linking capability
- Great for digital documents |
### Manual and Semi-Automatic TOC Creation
Each of these platforms offers unique methods for creating a TOC. For instance, in **Scribus**, you can use paragraph styles for headings, then create a new text frame to list headings along with page numbers. You can update this manually or use scripts (available from the Scribus community) to generate a TOC based on styles.
**Lucidpress** allows you to manually add text boxes for the TOC entries with corresponding page numbers or hyperlinks, adjusting layout visually using grid guides. **Canva** places text boxes for each TOC entry, and for digital PDF outputs, you can add hyperlinks to pages or sections for navigation.
**Microsoft Word** and **Google Docs** offer automatic TOC creation based on heading styles. Simply apply heading styles throughout your document, then insert a TOC which updates automatically. Export the document to PDF if needed.
**Figma** allows you to design a table of contents frame with text elements. Use Figma’s prototyping links to allow navigation between pages or frames.
### Choosing the Right Platform
If you're looking for a free, professional-grade alternative with desktop software and detailed layout control, **Scribus** is a strong choice, though it requires some manual work for TOCs. For a cloud-based, user-friendly option, **Lucidpress** or **Canva** are good, especially if you want collaboration or ease of use without full automation.
For simple text documents with automatic TOCs, **Microsoft Word** or **Google Docs** are practical. For interactive digital documents where design and linking matter, **Figma** can be employed creatively.
These alternatives cover a broad spectrum from manual to automated TOC creation, suitable for various publication types beyond what Adobe InDesign offers.
- The process of creating a table of contents (TOC) in Scribus can be manual or semi-automated, with the manual method involving the use of text frames and styles for headings, followed by listing the headings along with page numbers which can be updated either manually or through scripts.
- In Figma, while there is no automatic TOC feature, users can creatively design a TOC frame with linked text elements to navigate between pages or frames, making it ideal for digital interactive documents.
