- The table of illustrations allows you to sort and find images in a document.
- It is necessary to add titles to all illustrations before generating the table.
- Word allows you to automatically update the table when images are modified.
- The format and appearance of the table can be customized to suit the user's needs.
Microsoft Word offers numerous tools for structuring documents efficiently, and one of them is the table of figures . This feature allows you to list all the images, charts, or tables in a document along with their page numbers, making navigation easier.
If you frequently work with lengthy documents , adding a table of figures will save you time and allow readers to quickly locate visual elements. In this detailed guide, you'll learn how to insert a table of figures in Word, update it as needed, and customize its formatting.
What is a table of illustrations and what is it used for?
The table of illustrations in Word is a list that contains all the images, tables, or charts in a document, showing their location by page number. It is especially useful in academic papers , reports, or technical documents where it is necessary to reference images in an organized way.
This visual index is similar to a table of contents , since Word automatically generates it from the titles assigned to each image.
Preliminary steps before inserting a table of illustrations
Before generating the table of illustrations, it's important to add captions to all the images you want to include. Without these captions, Word won't be able to recognize or list the illustrations correctly.
- Select the image in the document.
- Go to the tab Highlighted and click Insert title.
- In the pop-up window, type the title of the image.
- Make sure the title tag is Illustration, although you can change it if you wish.
- Repeat this process for all images in the document.
How to Insert a Table of Illustrations in Word
Once the illustrations have a title assigned, you can proceed to insert the table of illustrations. Follow these steps:
- Place the cursor on the page where you want to insert the table.
- open the tab Highlighted and select Insert table of illustrations.
- In the configuration window, choose the format of the table.
- Make sure the field Title tag is set to Illustration.
- Customize the fill characters (periods, dashes, spaces) if desired.
- Click on Accept and Word will automatically generate the table.

How to update a table of figures
If you add new illustrations or make changes to the document, it is important to update the table to reflect the changes.
- Select the illustration table.
- Click on Update table tab Highlighted.
- Choose to update only the page numbers or the entire table.
- Click on Accept and your table will be updated automatically.
Customizing the format of a table of figures
Word allows you to modify the style of the table of figures to better adapt it to the design of the document.
- Click on the table of illustrations.
- open the tab Highlighted and select Insert table of illustrations.
- In the pop-up window, select an option from the menu Formats (Simple, Classic, Modern, etc.).
- If you want to customize even more, select From template and click Modify.
- Change source, size, padding or alignment according to your preference.
- Save changes and apply the style to the document.
Using a table of illustrations in Word makes it easier to organize and navigate documents with multiple images or graphics. By following these steps, you can easily insert, update, and customize your table, ensuring professional and well-structured content .
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