Before updating a table of contents, what must be done?

To successfully update a table of contents in a document, it is crucial to click anywhere within the table of contents. This action allows the document processing software, such as Microsoft Word, to recognize the table of contents as the active element. Once selected, the option to update the table is made available, which typically includes choices to update the entire table or just the page numbers.

Other options, like deleting the old table or checking formatting, are unnecessary steps prior to an update. Selecting the table of contents as a whole helps streamline the updating process, ensuring that any changes in the document structure, such as new headings or altered page numbers, are correctly reflected without requiring a complete deletion.