Why doesn't my ebook have the "Go to" Table of Contents option through kindle? A guide to correct this.

Someone emailed me with this question, so I thought I'd share it with those who may be wondering the same thing.

You need to place a "Toc" bookmark inorder for there to be a "Go to" Table of Contents option for your readers.

It's not as difficult as it sounds. Just go to the table of contents page you designed.

I'll use mine from my novel, The Road to Nowehere.

THE ROAD TO NOWHERE

TITLE PAGE

COPYRIGHT

CHAPTER 1- LOST

CHAPTER 2- QUICK DRIVE

CHAPTER 3- RESTLESS

CHAPTER 4- BURNING BRIGHT

CHAPTER 5- BEST LAID PLANS

CHAPTER 6- CAR SICK

CHAPTER 7- NIGHT TERRORS

CHAPTER 8- CHOICES

CHAPTER 9- AT A LOSS

CHAPTER 10- THE DETOUR

CHAPTER 11- SILENT

CHAPTER 12- CUTTING DEEP

CHAPTER 13- THE COLD

EPILOGUE

BIOGRAPHY

 Do you see the “T” in my title The Road to Nowhere?

Just place a bookmark on your title or where your table of contents begins.

To place a bookmark, go to the INSERT TAB- located between the HOME and PAGE LAYOUT tab on the top of your word application.

See it?

You should see a paste option on the home tab (the image with the clipboard)-

When you click on the insert tab, your options will be ;

(LET’S WORK FROM LEFT TO RIGHT)

COVER PAGE

BLANK PAGE

PAGE BREAK

TABLE

PICTURE

CLIP ART

SHAPES

SMART ART

CHART

SCREEN SHOT

 HYPERLINK

BOOKMARK

Cross reference would be below it.

Click on bookmark.

You’ll see an empty window requiring you to place a bookmark name.

Type;

   toc

It’s as simple as that.

Hit okay and you’re done, just don’t forget to add bookmarks to each new chapter, then add the hyperlinks to your toc. That’ll make it a clickable toc.

When I’d first published, I ran into all these problems and needed to know how things worked.

 Note:
Make sure you use Amazon's previewer and click on the "Go To" option. A list will appear. Menu should appear as well as begining. If you see the Table of Contents and it's clickable on the "Go To" tab and not highlighted in light gray, you've done it right. It will kick you to your Table of Contents page.

I made the mistake of not making sure I'd included mine. I thought I had, but it was done on another novel. It's now updated, but well over a thousand copies don't have the "Go to Table of Contents" option.

Not all indies include the Go To TOC, but it's helps the reader to have one.

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Creating a Toc for your eBook using Microsoft Word

Creating a Toc (Table of Contents) for your eBook using Microsoft word

1. To create a toc begin by typing

“Table of Contents” as your page title or type the title of your book.

Example:

AP CHEMISTRY

2. List all chapters below your page title/ header.

Example One:

AP CHEMISTRY

ATOMS AND BONDING

IONS AND ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

ATOMIC STRUCTURE

BONDING BASICS

Example two:

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

3.  Now highlight the “T” in Table of Contents( highlight with your mouse pointer)
4. At the top of your word document (near the home tab) select the “Insert Tab”
5. Select the “Bookmark” option
6. Name your Bookmark as “toc”.
7. Select “add” and it should appear in the box below the name.
8. Now place in your bookmarks for each chapter if you haven’t yet. (see above for bookmarks and hyperlinks)
9. Then Hyperlink everything in your Table of Contents (Hyperlink chapters individually) (link them through your bookmarks)

Example:

Chapter One-

AP Biology- Understanding Molecules and Cells

Cells assemble molecules into elaborate structures called organelles. Each organelle contributes some specific function to the cell. The function of the organelle “derives” from the structure.  

(Continue to write the rest of your paragraph(s)/ story) (This is just an example.)

I should have a bookmark in place at the C in Chapter one.

I would then hyperlink it to the Chapter One title in my toc (Table of Contents).

Example of where to place it-

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 (or list Chapter title)

Chapter 2

Note:

Don’t forget to insert a “Start Bookmark” in the beginning of your book. Example: You may insert it on your copyright page or at the first paragraph in Chapter 1 .

Note: Insert your “Start” bookmark without any hyperlinks.

Ideally, the start bookmark should be placed where you would like your book to begin so readers don’t purchase your e-book and begin on chapter 9 per say.

view my post on adding hyperlinks

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Adding hyperlinks and bookmarks to your ebook (For Microsoft Word)

Adding hyperlinks to your eBook (For Microsoft word)

To add a hyper link, highlight your book mark with your mouse.

Example:highlight> “Chapter One” (under your table of contents you created or wherever you’d like to place your hyperlink)

Now go to the Insert tab located on the top of your word page. It is located next to the “Home” tab and the “Page Layout” tab.

Click the insert tab and the option Hyperlink is made available along with other options.

Select the “Hyperlink” button

Now select place in this document under the “link to:” column.

Then select which bookmark you would like to hyperlink from your list of created bookmarks. (See Below on how to create the “Bookmarks”)

Adding Bookmarks to your eBook (prepping for hyperlinks for Microsoft word)

1.  To create a bookmark, highlight the first letter of the place you wish to bookmark (highlight with your mouse).Example: you would highlight the “C” in Chapter One.  

2. Select the “Insert tab” at the top of your word document. Once you click on insert, a row of options will appear. Select the “Bookmark” button.
3. A bookmark window will appear. Name your bookmark- Chapter1 for Chapter one or any name you’d like.
4. Click the “Add” option on the far right hand side of the box/ bookmark window.
5. You should see your new bookmark appear. Repeat this with every chapter in your book until complete. (You may also bookmark want to consider bookmarking additional places; Bio, author’s Picture, Author’s Notes, Maps, etc.)

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