How to Create a Tree Structure in MS Word
Creating a tree structure makes it easier to create and format your document and implement Word's built-in styles. You can switch the heading levels by promoting or demoting the text in your outline. Microsoft Word lets you expand or condense the tree structure (outline) in your document by clicking on the plus and minus signs in the outlining toolbar. Clicking the plus sign displays the content beneath the sub-heading, while clicking the minus sign hides the content below it.
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Instructions
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1
Open a blank document in MS Word.
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Click on "View" and "Outline" to change your document view to a tree structure.
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3
Type your heading in the first line and press the "Enter" key. Select "Level 1" for the outline level in the "Outlining" toolbar.
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4
Type your sub-heading in the second line and press the "Enter" key and choose "Level 2" for the outline level. The minus sign on the first line will switch to a plus sign, showing this level is now a sub-heading.
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Type in the information for the body of your document and press "Enter." Then pick "Level 3" for the outline level to place it beneath the sub-heading you created in step four.
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Click on the "Formatting" toolbar to use Word's styles. To open the "Formatting" toolbar, click on "View" and "Formatting."
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Change the level of the sub-heading in your tree structure by clicking on the line you want to modify. Then select the "Move up" button in the "Outlining" toolbar to promote it (move it up a level) or select the "Move down" button to demote it (move it down a level). Your tree structure in now created.
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