MORE INFORMATION
What Is a Cross-reference?
The cross-reference feature in Word lets you create a reference to another item in the same document or in another document when you are using a master document. For example, a cross-reference to a table in another part of a document might look like this: "See Table 6." Cross-reference fields are inserted as hyperlinks by default. When you click the cross-reference field, Word automatically scrolls to the location of the referenced item.
NOTE: To insert a cross-reference, click the
Insert menu and then click
Cross-reference.
If the caption number of the cross-referenced item changes, Word keeps track of the changes and updates the cross-reference to reflect the new number or location. For example, if you add an additional table to your document and Table 6 becomes Table 7, you can update the cross-reference field without inserting a new field or retyping the information.
You can include additional details, such as the page number of the item, by inserting a second cross-reference field. For example, by using two cross-reference fields, you can create the following:
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
From the
Reference type list, you can select the type of item that you want to cross-reference. You can 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 are included 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
In the
Insert reference to list, you can identify the information that you want to appear in the cross-reference. The choices that are available depend on your selection in the
Reference type list. All of the possible choices are listed in the following table.
Item Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heading Text Inserts the text of the heading.
Heading Number Inserts the number of the heading.
Heading Number Displays the selected heading without its
(no context) relative position in the outline numbered list.
Heading Number Displays the complete heading number from
(full context) anywhere in the document.
Page Number Inserts the number of the page that contains the
item. Please see NOTE 1.
Paragraph Number Displays the paragraph number and its relative
position in an outline numbered list. Please
see NOTE 2.
Paragraph Number Displays the paragraph number without its
(no context) relative position in an outline numbered list.
Please see NOTE 2.
Paragraph Number Displays the complete paragraph number from
(full context) anywhere in the document. Please see NOTE 2.
Bookmark Text Inserts text that is 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 that you added
to a caption; for example, International Air
Distances. Applies only to Equations, Figures,
and Tables.
Above/Below Inserts the word Above or Below as appropriate;
for example, See Table: Above.
NOTE 1: 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.
NOTE 2: For more information about the "Full Context" and "No Context" options for Heading and Paragraph, see the "More About Paragraph Number and Heading Number" section later in this article.
Insert As Hyperlink
By default, Word inserts a cross-reference as a hyperlink to the cross-referenced item. When you click the cross-reference, Word automatically scrolls to the item that is referenced. To turn off
Insert as hyperlink, click to clear the check box.
For Which Reference Type:
The For which option changes to incorporate your Reference type selection. The For which option lets you select the specific item that you want to refer to. For example, if you select Footnote in the Reference type box, For which footnote displays 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.
Cancel
Closes the Cross-reference dialog box without inserting a cross-reference.
Close
Closes the Cross-reference dialog box. The Cancel button changes to a Close button after you insert a cross-reference in your Word document.
More About Paragraph Number and Heading Number
This section describes the three different types of paragraph number and heading number references that you can insert from the
Insert reference to list.
Paragraph Number and Heading Number
Displays the paragraph number or heading 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).
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 in 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.
Numbered List 1
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 1
(i) Third Level, under Numbered List 1
Numbered List 2
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 2
(i) SEE REFERENCE: 1.(a)(i)
Paragraph Number (No Context) and Heading Number (No Context)
Displays the paragraph number or heading 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.
Numbered List 1
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 1
(i) Third Level, under Numbered List 1
(ii) Third Level, under Numbered List 1
Numbered List 2
(a) Second Level under Numbered List 2
(i) SEE REFERENCE: (ii)
Paragraph Number (Full Context) and Heading Number (Full Context)
Displays the complete paragraph number or heading 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.
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 the way that WordPerfect versions 6.1 and earlier create cross-references.
How to Create a Cross-reference in the Same Document
To create a cross-reference to an item 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 that is formatted with a heading or a numbering style.
- In the document, type the introductory text that begins the cross-reference. For example, type For more information, see:
- On the Insert menu, click Cross-reference.
- In the Reference type list, click the type of item that you want to refer to (for example, a Heading or Table).
- In the Insert reference to list, click the information that you want to insert into the document (for example, click Heading Text).
- In the For which Reference Type list, click the specific item that 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 similar to
{REF _Ref249586 \* MERGEFORMAT
} instead of the cross-reference text, Word is displaying field codes instead of the field results. To see the field results, press ALT+F9.
How to Create a Cross-reference to Sub Documents in Master Documents
You can reference items in other documents if both documents are sub documents in the same master document. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the master document that contains both subdocuments.
- Click the Expand Subdocuments button on the Outline toolbar.
- On the View menu, click Normal.
- Follow the steps outlined in the "How to Create a Cross-reference in the Same Document" section earlier in this article.
For additional information about master documents and using cross-references in master documents, click the article numbers below
to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
255908 WD2000: Part 1: General Information About Master Documents
257919 WD2000: Part 2: General Information About Master Documents
212052 WD2000: Errors Updating Fields in Master Document with Cross-References
How to Edit a Cross-reference
You can edit an existing cross-reference by selecting it and inserting a new cross-reference. To do this, follow these steps;
- 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, 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 that you are editing, and make sure the For which Reference Type list contains the correct item.
- Under Insert reference to, click the new item that you want to refer to.
- Click Insert and then click Close.
How to Update a Cross-reference
To update cross-references, use one 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 then press F9.
For additional information about updating cross-references, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
268845 WD2000: Added Text Is Not Included in Cross-Reference