Table of Contents (TOC) scans the rendered content of singular posts (and eligible types) for heading elements—typically H2 through H6—and builds a nested list of links. Each item jumps to an in-page anchor so readers can skim long articles the way they do on Wikipedia or developer docs. You can inject the TOC automatically via the_content, or place it precisely with a shortcode inside the block or classic editor.

Advanced Settings control which heading levels appear, how deep the outline goes, styling for the list and anchors, and whether auto-insert runs at all. This keeps editorial workflow simple: authors use normal Heading blocks or tags, and the outline updates on every save without manual HTML maintenance.

Who is this for?

Technical writers and bloggers who structure posts with clear H2/H3 outlines get the most value immediately. Marketing teams repurposing long PDFs into web pages can ship faster when the TOC is automatic. Agencies maintaining client sites can standardize on one module instead of per-theme plugins with different shortcodes. Sites that already use a page builder should verify heading markup is real semantic headings in content, not divs styled to look like titles, so the parser can detect structure.

Features

Automatic Outline Extraction

On singular views the module walks content for heading tags in order and mirrors hierarchy in a nested list.

Shortcodes

Place [wpps_toc] (and [toc] where aliased) exactly where the outline should sit—after an intro paragraph, in a sidebar pattern, or inside a Group block.

Optional Auto-Insert

When enabled, the TOC prepends or appends relative to the_content according to settings, so legacy posts gain navigation without bulk editing.

Anchors and Deep Linking

Headings receive stable anchor IDs where supported so URLs with #section-name scroll readers to the right block. Behavior may integrate with smooth-scroll themes.

Styling and Frontend Assets

Scoped CSS loads when a TOC is present so lists, counters, and highlight states remain readable across themes. Adjust with child theme overrides.

Heading Level and Depth Controls

Advanced Settings typically let you include or exclude levels, cap depth, and skip headings with certain classes—useful when H4 is only for legal boilerplate.

How It Works

Enable the Module

In WP PowerSuite, enable "Table of Contents."

Configure Advanced Settings

Choose heading levels, auto-insert position, numbering style if available, and exclusions. Save changes.

Author with Real Headings

In the block editor use Heading blocks; in classic editor use h2–h6 in HTML. Avoid skipping levels without reason so screen readers and the TOC stay coherent.

Place via Auto or Shortcode

Rely on auto-insert for uniform placement, or disable it and add [wpps_toc] only on posts that need an outline.

Test and Purge Cache

View the public URL, confirm anchors, then purge full-page cache or CDN so visitors see the same structure.

Performance Note

Parsing runs on output for singular requests. Very long posts with dozens of headings add minor CPU cost; limiting depth and excluded classes keeps work bounded. Caching plugins should cache the final HTML including anchors; avoid TOC plugins that run expensive DOM parsers per uncached hit without fragment cache where possible—this module is tuned for typical post sizes.

Installation & Activation

Install WP PowerSuite

Confirm the base plugin is active.

Enable Table of Contents

Toggle the module on from the module list.

Align with Editorial Style

Decide default placement (top vs after intro) and communicate to writers.

Conflict Check

If another TOC plugin is active, disable it to prevent double outlines or duplicate anchors.

Requirements

PHP 8.1 or higher WordPress 6.0 or higher Permission to manage options (Administrator)

Use Cases

APIDocs
API reference–style articles with many H2/H3 sections.

ComparisonContent
Comparison posts with repeated “Verdict,” “Pricing,” and “FAQ” headings.

KnowledgeBase
Internal wikis or knowledge bases migrated to WordPress.

PillarPages
Pillar content pages that double as mini homepages for a topic cluster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it work with the block editor?
Yes. Filtering happens on output so block markup and inner blocks remain intact as long as headings are semantic Heading blocks.
Can I exclude certain headings?
Use Advanced Settings for level limits, skip patterns, or CSS classes so promotional banners styled as headings do not pollute the TOC.
Why is my TOC list empty?
Common causes: viewing a archive instead of singular post, no eligible headings in content, content loaded via AJAX without hooks, or aggressive optimization stripping heading tags.
Does it support RTL languages?
List layout should follow theme direction; verify anchors still align for RTL themes and adjust CSS if numbers or markers misalign.
Will duplicate IDs break anchors?
The module aims for unique IDs per page; duplicate heading text may need suffixes—if issues persist, edit headings to be distinct or adjust slug-like text in Advanced Settings where available.

Troubleshooting

TOC is wrong or incomplete
Confirm you are on a singular template, headings are real h2–h6, not images or blank spacer blocks. Disable “lazy” plugins that strip markup until scroll.

Anchors scroll to wrong place
Sticky headers can offset scroll position—themes often add scroll-margin-top on headings; add CSS in the child theme as needed.

TOC appears twice
Remove duplicate shortcodes or disable auto-insert while using manual placement.

Full-page cache shows old outline
Purge cache after bulk heading edits or schedule automatic purge on save if your host supports it.

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Table of Contents

Overview