Insert cross-references

Use the Hyperlinks panel to insert cross-references into your document. The text being referred to is the destination text. The text that is generated from the destination text is the source cross-reference.

When you insert a cross-reference in your document, you can choose from several predesigned formats, or you can create your own custom format. You can apply a character style to the entire cross-reference source, or to text within the cross-reference. Cross-reference formats can be synchronized across a book.

Cross-reference source text is editable and can break across lines.

Note: Cross-references are included in exported Adobe PDF files if Hyperlinks is selected in the Export Adobe PDF dialog box in InDesign. Cross-references are included in the exported SWF file if Include Hyperlinks is selected in the Export SWF dialog box.
Inserting cross-references

A.
Cross-reference source in document

B.
Selected destination paragraph

C.
Click here to create or edit cross-reference format.

For a video tutorial on inserting cross-references, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid4024_id.

  1. Place the insertion point where you want the cross-reference to be inserted.
  2. Do any of the following:

    • Choose Type > Hyperlinks & Cross-References > Insert Cross-Reference.

    • Choose Window > Type & Tables > Cross-References, and then choose Insert Cross-Reference from the Hyperlinks panel menu.

    • Click the Create New Cross-Reference button  in the Hyperlinks panel.

  3. In the New Cross-Reference dialog box, choose Paragraph or Text Anchor from the Link To menu.

    If you choose Paragraph, you can create a cross-reference to any paragraph in the document you specify.

    If you choose Text Anchor, you can create a cross-reference to any text in which you have created a hyperlink destination. (See Create a hyperlink destination.) Creating a text anchor is especially useful if you want to use different text than the actual destination paragraph.

  4. For Document, select the document containing the destination that you want to refer to. All open documents that have been saved are listed in the pop‑up menu. If the document you’re looking for isn’t open, choose Browse, locate the file, and then click Open.
  5. Click a paragraph style (such as Head1) in the left box to narrow down the choices, and then select the paragraph you want to refer to. (Or, if Text Anchor is selected, choose the text anchor.)
  6. Choose the cross-reference format you want to use from the Format menu.

    You can edit these cross-reference formats or create your own. See Using cross-reference formats.

  7. Specify the appearance of the source hyperlink. See Hyperlink appearance options.
  8. Click OK.

When you insert a cross-reference, a text anchor marker appears at the beginning of the destination paragraph. You can view this marker when you choose Type > Show Hidden Characters. If this marker is moved or deleted, the cross-reference becomes unresolved.