Footnote with same reference

[riccardo.caliendo]

Hi,

how can I have a footnote with more reference? It seems impossible, but I can't belive that...

[Laubender]

Hi Riccardo,

how should that work optically in a text layout?

Please post a screenshot where you fake what you want.

Thanks,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[riccardo.caliendo]

 

Hi, thank you for the answer. This is what I mean, and I would like to do it with footnotes option, without any manual intervention.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @riccardo.caliendo/@serenaf52783336 :

There ought to be an easy answer to this question—cross-reference the footnote number—but sadly, that isn't an option in InDesign. I do it in Adobe FrameMaker all the time. I tried referencing a partial paragraph—up to the character that follows my footnote numbers—but that didn't work for me either.

You can file a feature request here: https://indesign.uservoice.com/ and in the meantime, my only suggestion is to manually add (and then manually track) the number. I hope someone has a better idea for you.

~Barb

Where is the option to cross-reference a footnote number, Adobe?

[riccardo.caliendo]

Thank you @Barb Binder, I've tried this, but with the same result.

[Barb Binder]

Well, @Laubender is on this thread—and he sees avenues to accomplishs tasks that I don't—so let's see if he comes up with a solution. Fingers crossed for you. 🤞🏼

~Barb

[Laubender]

Barb said: "…in the meantime, my only suggestion is to manually add (and then manually track) the number. I hope someone has a better idea for you."

Sorry. No.

The only idea that came to my mind was a footnote reference in a table header cell that is automatically duplicated to the next header instance of the table in the next text frame column or text frame.

But of course that cannot work, because a table cannot flow like a single anchored object through text. And if it could it would always need its own text frame and the footnote text will be not at the bottom of the main text's text frame.

Hm. How about endnotes in table header cells then?

They would work, if we could anchor the table in its own text frame and would be able to thread the anchored text frame to another anchored frame that continues the table. Anchoring all threaded text frames of a story? Not possible using InDesign's GUI, but possible by scripting. So in pricipal a construction with endnotes is thinkable.

Proof of concept:

Changing the width of the text columns in the frame so that both references of the same endnote must flow with the text:

Yes, all that is not very much practicable, but this is what we currently can do with InDesign.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[FRIdNGE]

Well!

Is it so hard to manage the footnote numbering?

Imagine 3 Scripts (associated to 3 cool shortcuts):

1/ update a “virtual” global footnote numbering;

2/ “copy/extract” the footnote numbering (placing the cursor inside the right footnote text;

3/ “paste/cross-ref.” the previous numbering as footnote call (placing the cursor inside the current text where to place it).

1/ is played once and again if the user inserts/removes a footnote that changes the numbering;

2/ and 3/ will let you imagine you are Mozart!

(^/)  The Jedi

[FRIdNGE]

Addendum:

The Script main function (1/) could be as an adaptaion of the one used in the Script played in this video! …

(^/)

[riccardo.caliendo]

Thank you @Laubender and @Barb Binder  you have been very kind. I will try!

Anyway, Indesign's options for footnotes are very limited. Hope they improve them...

Thank you!

[Laubender]

Hi Riccardo,

I will unmark my reply as "Correct Answer".

It's not a solution. I just explored what's still possible without writing a script or even a plug-in that can fully automate this. Writing a script for full automation could be possible. But that also requires a lot of time and therefore money.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[FRIdNGE]

As said a cool guy: "Time [and Money] is relative! …"  😉

In the funny video below, I use a keyboard shortcut [Ctrl-X] to play the Script.

… So: Click-Click-Click …

(^/)