How to Use WPS Outline View on macOS

Use WPS Outline View on macOS with 5 how-to topics, all available without membership; choose a topic from the How-to Index and follow the steps to complete it.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Enter Outline View

Entry: View tab in the top menu bar → Outline button; or the Outline icon in the status bar at the bottom right of the window

1. Open a WPS Writer document.
2. Click the View tab in the top menu bar.
3. Select the Outline button in the view options.
4. For a faster switch, you can also click the Outline icon in the status bar at the bottom right of the window.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: The document switches to Outline View, and outline-related tools appear at the top.
• Next action available: You can continue adjusting heading levels, moving sections, or setting the show level.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: If the current file is not a Writer document, the related entry may not appear.
• Environment note: It is recommended to apply heading styles in advance so the hierarchy is easier to review.

2. Adjust Heading Levels

Entry: Promote and Demote buttons in the Outline tools

1. Enter Outline View first.
2. Select the heading you want to change.
3. Click Promote to move the heading to a higher level, or click Demote to move it to the next lower level.
4. You can also press Tab to demote or Shift+Tab to promote.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: The selected heading changes to a different level.
• Next action available: You can continue checking whether nearby headings use consistent levels.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: If no heading is selected before the action, the result may not match your expectation.
• Environment note: It is better to confirm that the content uses heading structure instead of plain body text.

3. Reorder Sections

Entry: Move Up and Move Down buttons in the Outline tools

1. After entering Outline View, select the heading or section you want to move.
2. Click Move Up to move the section earlier in the document.
3. Click Move Down to move the section later in the document.
4. Repeat as needed until the section order matches your plan.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: The selected section changes position in the document structure.
• Next action available: You can review the surrounding context and confirm the overall flow.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: If you do not confirm the selected heading first, you may move the wrong section.
• Environment note: After reordering a long document, it is helpful to check whether heading levels still remain consistent.

4. Collapse or Expand Subcontent

Entry: The plus sign before a heading

1. In Outline View, locate the heading you want to manage.
2. Double-click the plus sign before the heading.
3. Collapse all subordinate content under that heading.
4. Click or double-click the same area again to expand the content.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: The subcontent under the heading is hidden or shown again.
• Next action available: You can focus on the current section and continue organizing other parts.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: Single-click and double-click behave differently, so try again if the action does not take effect.
• Environment note: Collapsing content changes only the display state and does not delete content.

5. Filter Headings by Show Level

Entry: Show Level drop-down list in the Outline tools

1. Enter Outline View.
2. Find the Show Level drop-down list in the outline tools.
3. Select the heading level you want to review.
4. Check the document structure shown for the selected level range.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: The document displays headings according to the selected level, making the structure easier to scan.
• Next action available: You can focus on checking one layer of heading structure.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: If you forget to restore the show level, you may think some content is missing.
• Environment note: This view is intended for structure review and does not change the original document content.