Cross-Reference to a Figure

[Jack]

I looked at the content at Insert and manage cross-references in InDesign, but am having difficulty with the workflow. I can find Window | Type and Tables | Cross References, without any trouble. Next, I need to link an existing figure number with a reference in the document text, and am not finding the workflow for doing that.

Any assistance appreciated, as always,

jwc

[Jack]

I have just managed to create my first _destination_ for cross-reference. However, I still lack the means to insert a _reference in my text_, to that destination.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

It depends upon how you placed and anchored the graphic in the layout, or if it's anchored at all!

Background:

In order to create a hyperlinked cross-reference or a conventional hyperlink, you must first have a destination. InDesign has only 3 choices for a destination:

• A Page (not a particular point on the page, but just the top of the page)
• A URL
• A Destination Anchor that is in text.

To hyperlink to your graphic:

1. Anchor the graphic somewhere in the text (either inline or custom).
2. Insert a new Destination Anchor in the text, just in front of the graphic's anchor marker (which looks like a blue Japanese Yen symbol)
3. Then create the hyperlink/cross-reference to the Destination Anchor.

For more information about anchoring objects in InDesign, see Work with anchored objects in InDesign

For more information about inserting Destination Anchors, see  Insert and manage cross-references in InDesign  and Learn how to create, manage, and edit hyperlinks in InDesign  (scroll down to the section Create a hyperlink destination)

[Laubender]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Bevi+Chagnon+%7C+PubCom  wrote

…To hyperlink to your graphic:

1. Anchor the graphic somewhere in the text (either inline or custom).
2. Insert a new Destination Anchor in the text, just in front of the graphic's anchor marker (which looks like a blue Japanese Yen symbol)
3. Then create the hyperlink/cross-reference to the Destination Anchor.…

As addition to what Bevi said:
You can also select the character that constitutes the graphic frame in the text frame and add a hyperlink destination.

From my German InDesign. "New Hyperlink Destination" > Text Anchor ( is selected special character in the text frame ).

That is leading to a hyperlink that has the area* of the graphic frame that holds your image.

That is also working for anchored groups.

*The shape of the "hot spot" of that hyperlink is always a rectangle in this case.

Even if you are anchoring a different shape like a circle or an arbitrary shape like I did in my screenshot above.

Regards,
Uwe

[Jack]

Barb,

No success yes, but please let me confirm: At the present time I’m x-refing to 'Figure 5', but that will later change, as others are added in future. Is this system able to keep up with such changes, assuming that I learn how to enter them correctly (which I have not done yet!)? Or are we supposed to wait for the very end incorporate those links? If so, it seems hardly worthwhile, since nothing is going to change, and the linkage is no longer required anyway.

If iI understand correctly thus far, I’m supposed to create a destination, anchored object within my graphic, then insert an x-ref to that object within the body of the text using words of my choice. Is that how it is supposed to work?

I’ll get back to you later, after I have become more familiar with how all of this is supposed to work.

tks.

jwc

[Barb Binder]

Hi Jack:

I know you have a number of different answers to your question. But based on your previous posts on how to add captions and auto number them, you just need to follow my instructions. You do not need to create a destination, you just need to create the cross reference as I specified above to the individual captions.

The point of using an InDesign cross reference is to put the burden on InDesign to keep up with the figure numbers and page numbers. When you edit the document, you update the cross references via the cross reference panel. For example, if your cross reference said "For more information, see Figure 10 on page 52.", and then you delete two pages that appear before page 52 that include a figure, updating the cross references will update that x-ref text to say ”For more information, see Figure 9 on page 50.”

That’s why we use them.

~Barb

[Jack]

Thanks, Barb, and yes, I’m following your answers. More later.

jwc

[Jack]

OK, my document again finally(!) has sequentially numbered figure captions. Now I would like to create cross-references to three of them, and to store this technique away for future use.

I easily followed all of your well-illustrated steps. My figure caption reads, "Figure 41. Hydrogen Atom." I would like the cross reference to read, "(Figure 1)", or "(see Figure 1)", but I cannot reduce the 'complete paragraph' to that degree. I'm getting an 'all or nothing' situation.

Best,

jwc

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

HI Jack:

When you add an x-ref, you can see the current wording on the page. If you don't like it, click the pencil button next to the current Cross-Reference Format list.

Pick any existing x-ref, delete the definition and add your own. You will see the building blocks by clicking the @ menu. I used (See <paraNum/>.) so that InDesign will reference the auto-number.

When it looks the way you want, click on OK.

All that you need to know about working with cross-references is in this file: Insert and manage cross-references in InDesign​. Be sure to work through it as you get up to speed on using x-refs effectively.

~Barb

[Jack]

Perfect, I finally succeeded doing what I needed to get done, and having it available for future use.

M\any thanks,

jwc

[Barb Binder]

Always happy to help, Jack.

~Barb

[Barb Binder]

Hi Jack:

I need to link an existing figure number with a reference in the document text

Here are the steps to cross-reference your figure captions:

1. Make sure you have assigned a paragraph style with auto-numbering to your caption text.
   
2. Click an insertion point in the text, where you want the X-ref to appear. Open the Cross-Reference panel, and click the Create a New Cross-Reference icon at the bottom of the panel.
   
3. Start by setting Link To to Paragraph, select your caption style in the left column, and then pick the paragraph you want to reference in the right column. Now on to refining the wording of the x-ref: choose the desired Cross-Reference Format from the list at the bottom. You can see the x-ref on the page—if the wording isn't to your liking, try out the other defaults in the Cross-Reference Format list. If you don't like any of them, click the Pencil button to edit the one that is closest to what you want.
   
4. You can edit an x-ref to look exactly the way you want.
   
5. When you are done, click OK to see the x-ref.
   

Once you get the first one working, repeat the steps for the other x-refs.

~Barb