Formatting a Business Report

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Graphic Highlighting 1

Section and Page Breaks 1

Section Breaks 1

Page Breaks 2

Page Numbering 2

(The Table of Contents always comes before the Introduction, so should have Roman numerals for the page number. The title page is considered page i of your report, but that page number is never shown in the report. The page numbering always starts with page ii.

You should automate the Table of Contents. To do this:

1. Use Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3 styles in the body of your report. Only use a maximum of three heading styles.

2. Create a blank page before your Introduction where you will insert the Table of Contents.

3. Centre and type the title Table of Contents at the top of the page.

4. Add a couple of lines between the title and where the entries will appear.

5. Select Insert, Reference, Index and Tables from the toolbar and drop-down menus.

6. Select the Table of Contents tab.

7. Set the number of heading styles you want to show and how the page numbers will appear (with tab leaders …).

8. PressSelect OK. The Table of Contents appears in edit mode (gray).

Note: Always create the Table of Contents last when you prepare a report because the page numbers are automated by your heading styles. If you change the pages or add materials, then you need to update your Table of Contents.

To update the Table of Contents:

1. Place your cursor anywhere in the gray area of your Table of Contents.

2. Right-click to access the menu.

3. Select Update Field.

4. Select Update Entire Table.

5. Click OK.

A chart, graph, photograph, and table are figures in your report. You should have a Table of Figures in the beginning of your report to help your decision maker find the information. To do this, follow the same steps as you would to insert a Table of Contents, except you select the Table of Figures Tab.)

Introduction

This document will explain how college students should format business reports for their business communication courses. It will demonstrate the use of graphic