MORE INFORMATION
What Is a Cross-reference?
The cross-reference feature in Word allows you to create a reference to an
item in either the same document or a different document,
for example, "See Table 6 on page 22." If the item in the cross-reference
changes, for example, if Table 6 becomes Table 5, or Table 6 moves to page
23, you can update the cross-reference field without retyping it.
What You See in the Cross-reference Dialog Box
This section defines the items that you see when you click Cross-reference
on the Insert menu.
Reference Type:
The Reference Type list lets you select the type of item you want to cross-
reference. Word allows you to cross-reference the following items:
Item Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Numbered Item If your document contains numbered paragraphs
(numbered headings or list items), as in a legal
document that contains outline numbered list
items or ListNum fields, you can create a
cross-reference to the paragraph number.
Heading Text that is formatted with one of the nine
heading styles that come with Word.
Bookmark Text that is marked by using the Bookmark
command on the Edit menu.
Footnote Footnote reference marks inserted in a document
by using the Footnote command on the Insert
menu.
Endnote Endnote reference marks inserted in a document
by using the Footnote command on the Insert
menu.
Figure/Table/Equation A caption inserted with one of the preceding
labels by using the Caption command on the
Insert menu.
Insert Reference To:
The Insert Reference To list lets you identify the information you want to
appear in the cross-reference. These choices depend on your selection in
the Reference Type list. All of the possible choices are listed below.
Item Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heading Text Inserts the text of the heading.
Heading Number Inserts the number of the heading.
Page Number Inserts the number of the page containing the
item.
NOTE: For footnotes and endnotes, the page
number that appears in the cross-reference is
the location of the footnote or endnote text,
not the location of the note reference mark.
Paragraph Number Inserts the paragraph number of a bookmark.
See the "More About Paragraph Number" section
later in this Article for more details.
Bookmark Text Inserts text marked with a bookmark.
Footnote Number Inserts a footnote reference mark.
Footnote Number Inserts a formatted footnote reference mark.
(formatted)
Endnote Number Inserts an endnote reference mark.
Endnote number Inserts a formatted endnote reference mark.
(formatted)
Entire Caption Inserts the label, number, and any additional
text of a caption, for example, Table 1:
International Air Distances. Applies only to
Equations, Figures, and Tables.
Only Label And Number Inserts only the label and number of a caption,
for example, Table 1. Applies only to Equations,
Figures, and Tables.
Only Caption Text Inserts only the additional text you have added
to a caption, for example, International Air
Distances. Applies only to Equations, Figures,
and Tables.
Above/Below Inserts the words Above or Below as appropriate,
for example, See Table: Above.
Insert As Hyperlink:
If you select this check box, Word creates a cross-reference that is a
hyperlink. That is, if you click the cross-reference, Word scrolls to the
referenced item in the document. You can also use the navigation buttons on
the Web toolbar to move between related paragraphs.
For Which <Reference Type>:
This area lets you select the specific item you want to refer to. For
example, if you select Footnote in the Reference Type box, this area is
called "For which footnote," and displays all of the footnotes in the
document.
Insert:
Inserts the cross-reference at the insertion point in the document. The
cross-reference dialog box remains open so that you can insert additional
cross-references.
Close:
Closes the cross-reference dialog box.
More About Paragraph Number
This section describes the three different types of paragraph number
references you can insert from the Insert Reference To list.
Paragraph Number:
Displays the paragraph number and its relative position in an outline
numbered list.
Example 1:
A cross-reference in 1.(a)(i) to paragraph 1.(a)(ii) appears as "(ii)"
because both paragraphs are under 1.(a)
1. Numbered List 1
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 1
(i) SEE REFERENCE: (ii)
(ii) Second Item in Third Level of Numbered List 1
Example 2:
A cross-reference 2.(a)(i) to 1.(a)(i) appears as "1.(a)(i)," because no
context is shared between the paragraphs; that is, they are in completely
different sections.
1. Numbered List 1
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 1
(i) Third Level, under Numbered List 1
2. Numbered List 2
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 2
(i) SEE REFERENCE: 1.(a)(i)
Paragraph Number (No Context):
Displays the paragraph number without its relative position in the
outline numbered list.
For example, a cross-reference in Paragraph 2.(a)(i) to paragraph 1.(a)(ii)
appears as "(ii)", regardless of the context of the reference.
1. Numbered List 1
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 1
(i) Third Level, under Numbered List 1
(ii) Third Level, under Numbered List 1
2. Numbered List 2
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 2
(i) SEE REFERENCE: (ii)
Paragraph Number (Full Context):
Displays the complete paragraph number from anywhere in the document.
For example, a cross-reference from anywhere in a document to paragraph
1.(a)(ii) appears as "1.(a)(ii)" in the cross-reference.
1. Numbered List 1
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 1
(i) SEE REFERENCE: 1.(a)(ii)
(ii) Second Item in Third Level of Numbered List 1
NOTE: This is similar to what WordPerfect versions 6.1 and earlier use.
How to Create a Cross-reference in the Same Document
If the item you want to refer to is located in the current document, follow
these steps.
NOTE: For this example, your document must contain at least one of the
following: a table with a caption, a footnote, an endnote, an equation with
a caption, a bookmark, a figure with a caption, or a paragraph formatted
with a heading or a numbering style.
- In the document, type the introductory text that begins the
cross-reference. For example, type the following:
For more information, see:
- On the Insert menu, click Cross-reference.
- In the Reference type list, click the type of item you want to refer to,
for example, a Heading or Table.
- In the Insert reference to list, click the information you want to
insert into the document, for example, Heading Text.
- In the For Which <Reference Type> list, click the specific item you want
to refer to. For example, if you click Heading in the Reference type box
and the document has six headings, click the heading that you want to
refer to.
- Click Insert and then click Close.
NOTE: If you see an entry that looks something like {REF _Ref249586 \*
MERGEFORMAT} instead of text, Word is displaying field codes instead of
field results. To see the field results, press CTRL+F9.
How to Create a Cross-reference to Another Document
If the item you want to refer to is located in another document, follow
these steps.
NOTE: Both documents must be subdocuments in the same master document.
- Open the master document that contains both subdocuments.
- Click the Expand Subdocuments button on the Master Document toolbar.
- On the View menu, click Normal.
- Follow the steps outlined in "How to Create a Cross-reference
in the Same Document" section earlier in this article.
For additional information about cross-references in master documents,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119514 WD: Errors in Cross-References in Master Document or Subdocument
How to Edit What a Cross-reference Refers To
- Select the cross-reference in the document, for example, "Figure 1."
NOTE: Do not select the introductory text, for example do not select
"For more information, see." To modify the introductory text in a Cross-
reference, simply edit the text in the document.
- On the Insert menu, click Cross-reference.
- Make sure the Reference Type list contains the type of cross-reference
you are editing, and make sure the For Which <Reference Type> list
contains the correct item.
- Under Insert Reference To, click the new item you want to refer to.
- Click Insert and then click Close.
How to Update a Cross-reference
To update cross-references, use either of the following methods.
Method 1: Update All Cross-references:
To update all cross-references in a document, click Select All on the Edit
menu and then press F9.
Method 2: Update One Cross-reference:
To update a single cross-reference in a document, select the cross-
reference and press F9.