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Participant
September 10, 2021
Answered

Automatically changing references to page numbers within a text.

  • September 10, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 1389 views

I am writing a version of a book for print, it has a couple of hundred pages, these are automatically numbered by my InDesign CS5. On many pages I need to refer the reader to other pages in the book. However, the book neds to be continuously adapted and changed so that what was, say, page 100 becomes page 104. How can I put page numbers into the text which will automatically update themselves as the book's pages change their numbers?

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Correct answer SJRiegel

Cross-References should do what you need.

2 replies

SJRiegelCorrect answer
Legend
September 10, 2021

Cross-References should do what you need.

Colin48Author
Participant
September 11, 2021

Thanks SJRiegel, I thought so too. And maybe I am being slow, but I think the problem is slightly different. I found it quite hard to express exactly. Maybe an imaginary example would help, this is preparing a document for paper printing.

On page 100 I might have written:

"Readers may wish to see allied material on page 42, and material about sea squids on page 131. There is also something of interest on page 167."

I then find I need to insert anothe pair of pages at page 85, so 131 now needs to read 133 and 167 now should be 169. The page numbering is fine as it is looked after by InDesign, however those two references need to be updated. So what I need is a way of putting InDesign's page holding reference in place of plain numbers. This happens several times on each page, and I need to prepare the text before all the pages are in place. I know the easy answer is don't do it. But I feel there should be a way of putting place holders to refer to the constantly updated page numbers, but maybe there is not?

Thanks anyway

Colin

Martrese-KinderCare
Participating Frequently
November 28, 2023

Colin, did you find a solution for this? I'd like to accomplish the same task and I'm having trouble finding a solution.

Colin48Author
Participant
September 10, 2021

Typo, that should read "However, the book needs to be..."