The New “Floating” Notion Table of Content or Page Navigation

Notion continues to innovate and enhance its capabilities and constantly drops new, amazing features. One of its latest addition is the floating table of contents (ToC). This dynamic new feature promises to streamline navigation within your Notion pages, offering us an intuitive way to jump between sections with ease.

Whether you're a student organising your study notes, a professional managing complex project documentation, or a writer structuring your next bestseller, the floating ToC in Notion is here to make your life easier.

How Notion’s Floating Table of Contents Work

The floating table of contents in Notion is designed to automatically detect page sections based on headings. Here's a breakdown of how it functions:

1. Automatic Detection: The feature scans your document and identifies headings. These headings can be in various formats, such as H1, H2, H3, etc., ensuring that all significant sections are captured.
2. Floating Navigation Pane: Once the headings are detected, they are displayed in a floating pane on the side of your document. This pane remains visible as you scroll, providing constant access to your document's structure.
3. Interactive Links: Each heading in the floating ToC is a clickable link. Clicking on a heading will instantly navigate you to that section, saving you from endless scrolling and searching.
4. Dynamic Updates: The ToC updates in real-time as you add, remove, or modify headings. This ensures that your table of contents is always current, reflecting the latest changes in your document.

Use Cases for the Floating Table of Contents

The floating ToC is a versatile tool that can be beneficial in various scenarios. Here are some prime use cases:

1. Notion OS Dashboards: If you like having a central homepage, hub where you centralise all your important stuff, this can be a great addition to that page. If you are familiar with Limitless OS, you may know that I’m using on-page navigation for quite some time, splitting my pages to sections. Now, this feature complements my “Limitless Dashboard” build perfectly.

Check Limitless OS 4.0 HERE

1. Academic Research: Students and researchers can quickly navigate between different sections of their notes or papers, such as literature reviews, methodology, and results. This is particularly useful for lengthy documents where manual scrolling is cumbersome.
2. Project Management: Project managers can organize large project plans, reports, or meeting notes. The floating ToC allows team members to quickly find specific sections, such as timelines, budgets, or task lists.
3. Content Creation: Writers and bloggers can use the floating ToC to structure their content. Whether drafting a novel or composing a blog series, the ToC helps keep track of chapters or sections, enhancing the overall organization.
4. Product Documentation: Software developers and technical writers can create comprehensive product documentation with ease. The floating ToC enables quick access to different parts of the documentation, such as user guides, API references, and troubleshooting sections.
5. Business Reports: Executives and analysts who prepare detailed business reports can benefit from the floating ToC to navigate between sections like executive summaries, financial data, and market analysis.

Tips for Using the Floating Table of Contents Feature in Notion

The floating table of contents (ToC) in Notion is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your document organization and navigation. To maximise its potential, here are some tips on how to use this feature correctly:

1. Purposeful Use of Headings

Using headings effectively is crucial for a well-structured document. Notion supports multiple heading levels (H1, H2, H3), each serving a different purpose:

• Heading 1 (H1): Use this for main titles or major sections of your document. These are the top-level headers that outline the primary structure.
• Heading 2 (H2): Utilize these for sub-sections under each main section. They help break down your content into more manageable parts.
• Heading 3 (H3): These are for detailed sub-sections within your H2 sections. They provide further granularity and detail.

Tip: Maintain a consistent hierarchy. Always follow H1 with H2, and H2 with H3, to ensure your ToC accurately reflects your document's structure.

2. Descriptive Headings

Make sure your headings are descriptive and concise. They should clearly indicate the content of the section, making it easy for users to understand what each part of the document covers.

Tip: Avoid vague titles like "Section 1" or "Introduction." Instead, use specific headings like "Project Overview" or "Research Methodology."

3. Regular Updates

As you add, remove, or modify content in your document, ensure that your headings are updated accordingly. The floating ToC updates in real-time, but maintaining the relevance and accuracy of your headings is up to you.

Tip: Periodically review your headings to ensure they still accurately reflect the content of each section, especially after making significant changes to your document.

4. Utilise Nested Headings

Leverage nested headings (H2, H3) to create a clear, hierarchical structure within your document. This makes your ToC more useful and your document easier to navigate.

Tip: Use nested headings to break down complex sections into more digestible parts. For instance, under a main section on "Marketing Strategy," use H2 headings for "Digital Marketing," "Content Marketing," and "SEO," with H3 headings for specific tactics within each category.

5. Consistent Formatting

Consistency in heading formatting helps maintain a professional and organized appearance. Stick to a single style for each heading level throughout your document.

Tip: Decide on a heading style guide before you start writing, and apply it consistently. For example, all H1 headings could be bold and centered, H2 headings italicized, and H3 headings underlined.

6. Minimize Clutter

While headings are crucial, overusing them can clutter your ToC. Aim for a balance where each section is adequately represented without overwhelming the user.

Tip: Only use H3 headings when necessary. If a section doesn’t require further subdivision, avoid adding unnecessary headings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enable the floating table of contents in Notion?

A: The floating ToC feature is automatically enabled for all users. If you have headings in your document, the floating ToC will appear on the right side of your screen.

Can I customise the appearance of the floating ToC?

A: Currently, the customisation options for the floating ToC are limited. However, Notion is continually updating its features based on user feedback, so more customisation options may be available in the future.

Will the floating ToC work with all types of documents in Notion?

A: Yes, the floating ToC works with any Notion document that uses headings. Whether you’re working on a note, a project plan, or a comprehensive report, the ToC will automatically detect and display your headings.

Can I collapse or hide the floating ToC if I don’t need it?

A: The floating ToC is only visible when you hover over it with your mouse, so it shouldn’t disturb you at all. A couple of lines remain visible all the time that is really not that intrusive.

Does the floating ToC support nested headings?

A: Yes, the floating ToC supports nested headings. This means that subheadings (H2, H3, etc.) will be indented under their parent headings, providing a clear hierarchical view of your document structure.

Conclusion

The introduction of the floating table of contents in Notion is a game-changer for users who need to manage and navigate large pages efficiently.

By automatically detecting headings and providing a dynamic, interactive navigation pane, Notion continues to enhance its usability and maintain its reputation as a leading productivity tool.

Whether you’re managing projects, creating content, or conducting research, the floating ToC is set to become an indispensable feature in your Notion toolkit.

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