[Tex/LaTex] Table of Contents Modification: How to change fonts from bold to normal

formattingtable of contents

I am writing my dissertation and for that, I am using a style file that originally was created by Georgia Tech, but later on, it was modified by different students at my school. The problem I currently have is that our school has recently changed some of their standards for the format of a dissertation. I have been able to modify this style file accordingly to cover most of their changes. However, there is one thing I haven't been able to figure out so far and that is: Right now, the style file generates a table of contents where each chapter title is shown in bold (please look at the image). Our school requires that nothing should be in bold for this section. Please provide advice if you know how to fix this. I would be more than happy to share the style file or discuss this in private with you.

table of contents sample figure

Best Answer

The part that is responsible for setting the chapters in the ToC is \l@chapter in the standard document classes. Take, for example, its definition from report.cls:

\newcommand*\l@chapter[2]{%
  \ifnum \c@tocdepth >\m@ne
    \addpenalty{-\@highpenalty}%
    \vskip 1.0em \@plus\p@
    \setlength\@tempdima{1.5em}%
    \begingroup
      \parindent \z@ \rightskip \@pnumwidth
      \parfillskip -\@pnumwidth
      \leavevmode \bfseries
      \advance\leftskip\@tempdima
      \hskip -\leftskip
      #1\nobreak\hfil \nobreak\hb@xt@\@pnumwidth{\hss #2}\par
      \penalty\@highpenalty
    \endgroup
  \fi}

Note how within the \begingroup...\endgroup segment, a number of lengths are set (\parindent is set to zero/\z@, \rightskip is set to \@pnumwidth and \parfillskip is set to -\@pnumwidth). Subsequently, horizontal mode is entered (\leavevmode) and then the font series is set to bold (\bfseries).

You'll probably find something similar in your class or style file which needs changing. This can either be achieved via a total redefinition, a temporary removal of the meaning of \bfseries or a patch (using etoolbox and friends).


tocloft is also an option, and allows for specific changes to ToC entries based on their level (chapter, or section, or subsection, ...).