[913] Updating a Table of Contents (TOC) in a Word document using pywin32 to display numbers

If the python-docx method mentioned earlier doesn't work on your computer, you can try using the pywin32 library, which allows you to interact with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, through COM (Component Object Model) interfaces. Here's how to update the Table of Contents (TOC) in a Word document using the pywin32 library:

Install the pywin32 library if you haven't already. You can install it using pip:

pip install pywin32

Updating a Table of Contents (TOC) in a Word document using pywin32 to display numbers only can be a bit complex because it involves automating Microsoft Word's features. Below is a Python script that demonstrates how to update a TOC in a Word document to display numbers only:

import win32com.client as win32
 
# Path to your Word document
docx_file_path = "path/to/your/document.docx"
 
# Start a new instance of Word
word = win32.gencache.EnsureDispatch("Word.Application")
 
# Open the Word document
doc = word.Documents.Open(docx_file_path)
 
# Iterate through the document's fields and update the TOC
for field in doc.Fields:
    if field.Type == 13:  # Check if it's a Table of Contents field (Type 13, in my case)
        field.Select()
        word.Selection.Fields.Update()
        word.Selection.EndKey()
 
# Save and close the document
doc.Save()
doc.Close()
 
# Quit Word
word.Application.Quit()

In this script:

1. You start a new instance of Word using win32com.client.

2. Open the Word document specified by docx_file_path.

3. Iterate through the fields in the document. We check if a field is a Table of Contents field (Type 1) and update it using word.Selection.Fields.Update().

4. Save and close the document.

5. Quit the Word application.

This script should update the TOC to display numbers only in your Word document. Make sure to replace "path/to/your/document.docx" with the actual path to your Word document.

Please note that the exact formatting of the TOC may vary depending on your Word document's styles and settings. You may need to customize the script further to match your specific document structure.