TechnicalFree
Generate table of contents
Paste your document or attach the file, and get a properly nested table of contents from its headings, with Markdown links or as a numbered list.
River's Table of Contents Generator builds a properly nested table of contents from your document's headings. It reads your heading levels, points out skipped or inconsistent levels, and writes the table of contents with section links in Markdown, or as a plain numbered list for documents that will be printed or turned into a PDF. Useful for long README files, guides, ebooks and reports.
If your document is already in Word or Google Docs with proper heading styles, their built-in table of contents is the better choice, because it updates itself. This tool helps when headings are typed inconsistently, when you are writing in Markdown, or when you want the structure checked before you publish.
This tool is for documentation writers, README maintainers, technical authors, and anyone with a long document that readers need to find their way around.
Making Documents Navigable
Long documents need tables of contents for usability. TOCs let readers jump to relevant sections quickly. Always include TOC for documents over 1000 words or with multiple major sections.
A useful table of contents mirrors the document's real hierarchy. Use two or three levels at most - top-level sections with key sub-sections nested beneath them - so readers can scan the shape of the whole document without drowning in detail. Headings should be descriptive and parallel ('Setting up your account', 'Configuring billing') rather than vague ('Overview', 'More info'), because the TOC is often the first thing a reader scans to decide whether the document has what they need.
Where the table of contents lives changes how you build it. For web pages and Markdown files, links that jump to each section help readers move around. For ebooks and PDFs, it doubles as the navigation menu, so every entry must match a real heading. For internal reports, a table of contents at the top sets expectations. When headings change, generate it again so the entries and links still match.
How It Works
Give River your document
Paste the text or attach the file
River analyzes structure
AI detects headings, flags nesting issues, and recommends improvements
Choose your options
Pick transmutation chips: clean nesting, add numbering, summarize sections
Create River Doc
A full editable doc opens with your TOC inserted and ready to use
What You Get
- Complete table of contents from your headings
- Correct nesting, with skipped levels pointed out
- Section links in Markdown, or a plain numbered list
- Ready to place at the top of your document
Common questions
What is a table of contents?
A table of contents is an organized list of a document's sections and headings, usually placed at the start, that shows the document's structure and lets readers jump to the part they need. In digital documents the entries are links; in print they are paired with page numbers. River builds a nested table of contents from your headings.
How do you create a table of contents?
List each section heading in the order it appears, nest sub-sections under their parent headings (two to three levels works best), and link each entry to its section or give its page number. Keep headings descriptive and parallel so the list is easy to scan. Paste your text or attach the file, and River detects the headings and builds the list.
Does this work with markdown headings?
Yes. Recognizes markdown (#, ##, ###) and HTML headings (<h1>, <h2>, <h3>). Generates appropriate TOC format for your document type.
Are the links clickable?
In the Markdown version, yes: the links follow the usual heading-link pattern used by GitHub and most documentation sites. Check them after publishing, since some sites build links differently. For Word or PDF output, use the plain numbered list, or your editor's own table of contents feature.
What if my document structure changes?
Generate it again whenever you add, remove or rename sections, so the entries and links still match. If your document lives in Word or Google Docs, their built-in table of contents can update itself from heading styles.
What file types can I upload?
You can paste the text or attach the file, for example Word, PDF, Markdown or plain text. River reads the headings from whatever you provide.
Generate table of contents
Describe what you need, add any files you have, and your workspace opens with the work already underway.