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Author57
Participating Frequently
June 11, 2026
Question

Creating Cross references in InDesign

  • June 11, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 10 views

I’m trying to create my first cross reference (which I’ve never done before). Instructions for doing it through Type / Hyperlinks & Cross References say:

  1. Create a text anchor: open the Hyperlinks or Cross‑References panel menu → New Hyperlink Destination → choose Type: Text Anchor → name the anchor and click OK.

But it won’t let me name the anchor. All the drop-down shows is [None]. 

I’ve also tried creating a name anchor through Windows / Interactive / Hyperlinks. I seem to have successfully created a name anchor there, but when I use Type / Hyperlinks & Cross References to create the link it doesn’t show up in the Text Anchor names. 

    2 replies

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 11, 2026

    Are you cross referencing a heading/title/figure caption or specific text within a multi-line paragraph that may break across pages?

         You will need to add an anchor for text within a multi-line paragraph that may break across pages, but in most cases, cross reference short, self-contained paragraphs like headings/figures/ titles, by selecting a text using a specific paragraph style. 

     

     

     

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    Peter Kahrel
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 11, 2026

    Not sure where you see [None]. When I select New Hyperlink Destination I get this window:

    Cross-references can be created to paragraphs as well: it doesn’t have to be a text anchor.