How can I automatically generate a Table of Contents for my blog posts or CMS items using Webflow without the need for plugins or complex code?

While there may not be a built-in feature in Webflow to automatically generate a table of contents (TOC) for blog posts or CMS items without using plugins or complex code, you can create a workaround using Webflow's native functionality. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Set up a Rich Text field in your CMS collection: Start by creating a Rich Text field in your CMS collection where you will enter the blog post content. This field will allow you to structure your content using headings.

2. Add headings to your content: When creating your blog post or CMS item, use the Rich Text field to add headings using the text formatting options. Utilize H2 for main sections and H3 for subsections as they are widely used for TOCs.

3. Create a separate field for the TOC: In your CMS collection, create a new Plain Text field specifically for the table of contents. This field will dynamically generate the TOC based on the headings in your content.

4. Populate the TOC field dynamically: Once you've created your headings in the content field, go to your collection item in the CMS Editor. In the TOC field, manually create a list and enter the headings manually. This step requires some manual effort, but it's a one-time setup.

5. Style the TOC: Design and style your TOC using Webflow's Designer. You can use div blocks, list elements, and link blocks to create the structure and visual styling you desire. You can also use Webflow's interactions to add a hover effect or smooth scrolling when clicking on TOC links.

6. Insert the TOC in your blog post template: In your blog post template, drag and drop an Embed element where you want the TOC to appear. Customize the Embed code to display the TOC field from your CMS collection dynamically.

7. Style the blog post content: Use Webflow's Designer to style the text formatting of your blog post content and make the headings stand out from the rest of the text.

With these steps, you can create a simple and effective table of contents for your blog posts or CMS items in Webflow without relying on external plugins or complex custom code.