Table of Contents (TOC): Roman numerals for front matter not displaying. Only standards numbers appear in TOC.

MZG 0 Reputation points
2026-11-09T19:25:00.82+00:00

Background Information:

  1. Used custom page numbering, so the front matter in the dissertation (i.e., title page, dedication, acknowledgements, and table of contents) displays Roman numerals. Therefore, regular/standard numbering (e.g., 1, 2,3...) starts with the introduction page.
  2. There is a section break between the front matter and the rest of the dissertation.
  3. Each part of the front matter (i.e., title page, dedication, acknowledgements, and table of contents) contains a page break.

Troubleshooting Completed (unfortunately, did not resolve issue)

  • Have updated the TOC multiple times.
  • Deleted and re-inserted the TOC.
Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For education | Windows

2 answers

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  1. Stefan Blom 357.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-11-09T20:10:25.99+00:00

    Since you have a section break, you should be able to change the page number format for the relevant section. You will have to make use of the Page Number Format dialog box for that purpose. To display the dialog, go to the Insert tab, click Page Number, and then click Format Page Numbers.

    In the Page Number Format dialog box, specify the settings you want. This is also where you restart the page numbering for the active section, if appropriate.

    For more on setting up a front matter, see Suzanne S. Barnhill's article at http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/FrontMatterRibbon.htm .

    Remember to update the table of contents, once you are done.

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  2. Ivory 2,710 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-09T19:57:42.9166667+00:00

    Hi MZG

    This issue is often related to how page numbering is configured between sections. A commonly recommended approach is to verify that:

    • A proper Section Break (Next Page) exists between the front matter and the main body of the document.
    • Link to Previous is turned off between sections.
    • Format Page Numbers is set to i, ii, iii for the front matter and 1, 2, 3 for the main section.
    • After making any changes, all fields are updated by pressing Ctrl+A, then F9.

    Additionally, please ensure the front matter headings (for example, Dedication or Acknowledgements) are formatted using a heading style included in the TOC, then update the TOC using Update Field > Update entire table.

    If the issue persists, could you please clarify whether:

    • The front matter entries are missing from the TOC entirely, or
    • They appear in the TOC but display Arabic page numbers instead of Roman numerals?

    To ensure I provide the most accurate assistance, I would appreciate any additional information you can share regarding your current situation. A screenshot showing the TOC and the section breaks (with Show/Hide ¶ enabled) would also be helpful for further troubleshooting.

    Thank you for your patience and understanding. Should you have any further questions, please feel free to comment in this post.

    If the answer is helpful, please click 'Yes' and kindly upvote it.

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