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Troubleshooting Common Issues After an Easy Table of Contents Update

30 threads Sep 9, 2025 Plugin → Easy table of contents

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Updates to the 'Easy Table of Contents' plugin are intended to improve functionality and security. However, as with any software, a new update can sometimes introduce unexpected conflicts or bugs on certain WordPress configurations. This guide covers the most frequently reported post-update problems and provides steps to diagnose and resolve them.

Common Post-Update Issues

Based on community reports, the most common issues that arise after an update include:

  • Fatal Errors & White Screens: The site crashes or displays a blank white screen.
  • Display & Layout Problems: The table of contents (TOC) appears in the wrong location, breaks page layout, or causes unusual spacing.
  • Functionality Breaks: The TOC is not generated, links do not scroll correctly, or features like 'View More' stop working.
  • Conflicts with Page Builders: Issues specifically with WPBakery, Divi, or other visual builders.
  • CSS Styling Issues: Custom colors or RTL (Right-to-Left) alignment no longer works as expected.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. The First Step: Clear All Caches

Before any complex troubleshooting, always clear your site's cache. This includes:

  • Any caching plugin you have installed (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache).
  • Your browser cache.
  • Server-level or CDN caches (e.g., Cloudflare).

Outdated cached files are a common cause of display issues after an update.

2. Check for a Newer Update

The 'Easy Table of Contents' team is often quick to release patch updates to fix bugs introduced in a previous version. If your issue just appeared:

  1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard > Plugins page.
  2. See if an update is available for 'Easy Table of Contents'.
  3. If an update is available, apply it and test your site again.

3. Conflict Testing

Conflicts with your theme or other plugins are a primary cause of issues. To test for a conflict:

  1. Switch Themes Temporarily: Activate a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four. If the problem resolves, the issue is likely with your theme.
  2. Deactivate Other Plugins: Deactivate all other plugins except 'Easy Table of Contents'. If the problem is fixed, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the culprit.

4. Roll Back to a Previous Version (If Necessary)

If the problem persists and is causing critical errors, rolling back to the last known stable version is a reliable temporary solution. You can do this manually by downloading an older version from the WordPress plugin Advanced page (scroll down to "Previous Versions") or by using a plugin like "WP Rollback."

Specific Fixes for Common Problems

For Fatal Errors & White Screens

If your site is completely down:

  1. Use your hosting file manager or FTP to access your site's files.
  2. Navigate to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
  3. Rename the easy-table-of-contents folder to easy-table-of-contents-deactivate. This will deactivate the plugin and should restore access to your site.
  4. You can then reinstall a working version.

For TOC Links Not Scrolling Correctly

If clicking a TOC link jumps you to the top of the page instead of the correct heading:

  1. Go to the 'Easy Table of Contents' settings in your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to the Advanced tab.
  3. Locate the option labeled Generate TOC Link IDs.
  4. Check this box and save your settings.
  5. Test the links again.

For RTL (Right-to-Left) Alignment Issues

If the alignment is broken after an update, a CSS override may be needed while waiting for an official fix. You can add custom CSS in your theme's Customizer or a custom CSS plugin:

.ez-toc-container-direction {
    direction: rtl !important;
}

Getting Further Help

If you have tried the steps above and your issue remains, you can seek help from the wider community. When asking for help, be sure to provide:

  • The exact version number of the 'Easy Table of Contents' plugin.
  • The name and version of your WordPress theme.
  • A list of other active plugins.
  • The URL of a page where the issue can be seen.
  • Clear screenshots or a short screen recording of the problem.
  • Any specific error messages from your browser's console (F12 > Console tab) or server error logs.

This information is crucial for others to accurately diagnose the problem you are experiencing.

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