Changing cross-reference formats - what do my options mean?

Report · Mar 10, 2011

Hi all, using TCS2 on Win 7 64 bit.

I have a question about changing a cross-reference format. I have one that is "<paratext>" right now - the " included. So my xref says (for example):

For more information, please see "Appendix 1".

I want to change this to that it doesn't show quotation marks anymore. I know the HOW of doing this, my question is once I have made the change, a dialogue box appears asking me which cross-references this change should apply to. My options are:

Internal Cross-References

References to All Open Documents

References to All Documents

I don't know which one I should chose. I am working in a book structure that has a bunch of FM files imported to form chapters. Each file file uses this old style xref so I need to update the xref format in each file (I think I need to do this one by one) and in some instances my xrefs are within the same doc, sometimes they are to other files within the FM book. So I think I need to pick 'References to All Documents' but it says there is no undo so I'm seeking advice first!

Many thanks in advance,

Adriana

Report · Mar 10, 2011

adrianaharper wrote:
Hi all, using TCS2 on Win 7 64 bit.
I have a question about changing a cross-reference format. I have one that is "<paratext>" right now - the " included. So my xref says (for example):
For more information, please see "Appendix 1".
I want to change this to that it doesn't show quotation marks anymore. I know the HOW of doing this, my question is once I have made the change, a dialogue box appears asking me which cross-references this change should apply to. My options are:
Internal Cross-References
References to All Open Documents
References to All Documents
I don't know which one I should chose. I am working in a book structure that has a bunch of FM files imported to form chapters. Each file file uses this old style xref so I need to update the xref format in each file (I think I need to do this one by one) and in some instances my xrefs are within the same doc, sometimes they are to other files within the FM book. So I think I need to pick 'References to All Documents' but it says there is no undo so I'm seeking advice first!

Many thanks in advance,
Adriana

Internal means only within the current document. All open, and all, are self-explanatory.

Your question shows that you're not sure what will happen when all instances of the cross-references that use the format are changed, either because you can't remember what you created in your own book, or because you're working on a book created by someone else, or that you collaborate on with others.

Don't let "no undo" scare you off. You can undo the result by saving all the files, before you do the changes. From within the book window, hold Shift while clicking the File menu - Save changes to Save All Files in Book. Or, from within any open file, hold Shift while clicking the File menu - Save changes to Save All Open Files. After you save the files, performing any non-undoable operation like changing the cross-reference format only makes the changes, but doesn't save the affected files. These actions are undoable by holding Shift while clicking the File menu again; from within a book window, Close becomes Close All Files in Book, and from with an open file, Close becomes Close all open files. When prompted to save, click Don't Save. Alternatively, from within each open and changed file, File > Revert prompts for confirmation, and if you choose to continue, the last-saved version of the file reopens.

If you want yet another safety layer, copy the whole file structure that will be affected to a safe location. If the set of assets is sprinkled all around the system, Bruce Foster's inexpensive FM plug-in "archive" will copy the whole collection into one place: http://home.comcast.net/~bruce.foster/products.htm.

HTH

Regards,

Peter Gold

KnowHow ProServices

Report · Mar 11, 2011

Adriana,

Skipping files when updating xrefs is IMO just useful if you work in an environment where you do not have access to those other files.

I would tackle your original task differently. Please understand that changing the xref format and updating an xref reference are two different things. But, of course, what would be the use of an xref that is not updated?

Since you want to change the xref format in all files of the book you need to have access to them. Also, your book should update without any warnings regarding unresolved xrefs. Go ahead:

If you have a template file, make the xref format change in the template file. Otherwise change the xref format in one file of the book.
Open the book, select all book components and use File > Import > Formats to import only the xref format settings from the template or the file with the changed xref format.
Update the book.

Done.

- Michael

Report · Mar 11, 2011

Thank you for the answer. Yes - I understand that changing/updating an xref is different than changing the format - format is all I wanted to change. This worked perfectly.

Thanks again!

Adriana