Inspiring

Question

Find text by formatting and insert Cross-References

Forum|Forum|9 months ago
April 22, 2025
3 replies
1230 views

Hi everyone, I need a script to find text by formatting and insert Cross-references to content/Paragraph Text present in a Master page. So, all text found in the document with the formatting attribute paragraph style (e.g:) "Contents" applied must have its own cross-reference - the paragraphs in both places (in the document and master pages) match, but they're not linked. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Scripting

Robert at ID-Tasker

Brainiac

@Rogerio5C09

Why do you need something like that?

Robert at ID-Tasker

Brainiac

@Rogerio5C09

Here is an example of the filtered out text structure of your document:

As you're working on Windows - I can give you access to my tool for a few days for free - I'll even help you create Tasks.

But again - why do you need to Cross-Ref to something on the Master?

Or if you plan on doing it as buttons - here is object structure of your document:

R

Rogerio5C09Author

Inspiring

Hi @Robert at ID-Tasker, the blue buttons on pages 1-4 are not in the Master Page because they are also headings in the original document. If I just remove them and use the ones from the master, the headings disappear from the automated TOC, which is not ideal. Adding Cross-References is work around here, a way to keep them linked to the "Master buttons", maintaining the headings in the TOC.

m1b

Community Expert

Hi @Rogerio5C09 you'd need to post an example .indd document showing before and after, so we'd understand *exactly* what you want.

- Mark

R

Rogerio5C09Author

Inspiring

Hi @m1b, thanks for checking! 🙂 Please find INDD files attached - in the "after" document, you will find the cross-reference for each text/paragraph already set in the Cross-References panel.

for_testing_before.zip

for_testing_after.zip

R

Rogerio5C09Author

Inspiring

I found these posts this morning - maybe we could use it a reference for the script?
https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-javascript-add-cross-reference-at-index-position/td-p/12771605
https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/how-create-crossreference-link-to-paragraphs-or-text-anchor-to-another-indesign-file/m-p/4710060#M305550

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

You can create multiple cross references FROM a masre/parent to content on pages. But it is impossible to link. Ross references TO master/parents the master/parent will appear on several pages in the fresulzing document but a cross reference can only lead to a single target.

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