Turning a Word document’s table of contents into a living sidebar involves strategically pulling content, building structured HTML, and enhancing it with interactive JavaScript.
To begin, export your headings as a.txt file or copy the list directly from the Word interface.
Verify that the document’s heading levels are visibly distinguished, from H1 down to H6, to preserve structure.
You must transform these headings into well-formed HTML lists—nested ul and li elements—that mirror the document’s hierarchical structure.
Once the HTML structure is ready, paste it into a WordPress text widget or create a custom sidebar widget using a plugin like Custom HTML Widget or a code snippet in your theme’s functions.php file.
Drag and drop your widget into the target sidebar area via the WordPress Appearance > Widgets panel or the live Customizer preview.
Next, enhance the interactivity by adding a small JavaScript snippet that listens for click events on the list items.
Upon clicking any sidebar item, the script must trigger a smooth scroll to the matching content section on the page.
This can be achieved using the native JavaScript scrollTo method combined with the element’s ID.
Ensure every heading in your article’s body carries an ID that exactly matches the href target in the sidebar links.
To ensure accessibility and SEO compliance, use semantic HTML and include aria labels where necessary.
Replace placeholder links with the actual heading titles to improve clarity, SEO, and screen reader usability.
Verify that the navigation works reliably on mobile, tablet, and desktop across Chrome, ketik Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
Style the sidebar using your site’s color scheme, typography, and spacing rules, adding interactive feedback like hover highlights and active link indicators.
For sites with long-form content, you might also want to implement a sticky sidebar so the navigation remains visible as the user scrolls.
Maintain a written guide outlining your workflow, making it simple to update the sidebar when new headings are added to the page.
By following these steps, you transform a passive Word TOC into an intelligent, interactive guide that enhances reader flow and retention.
