how to set up a text link from a text word to a different position of text

[rena35283502sxwh]

Hello,
I hope to explain my requirement as best I can.
I have a text on the front page.
more text on page 3
how can i make it so that from a word in the text on page 1 i can go to a specific text on page 3?
bookmarks?
anchored text?
other?
I've been looking for days for information on how to make anchored text (the one on page 3 that I can then direct from my link on page 1)
how can I do that?

Thanks

Renareto

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

The feature you want to use is a cross-reference, if you want it to automatically update, or a hyperlink, if you can set it up once and be done.

They are more or less identical and both use hyperlinks to connect one spot in a document to another, but a cross-reference can be set up to change as the target text's location and content changes, while a simple hyperlink is fixed until you edit the link.

If that plus a little review of help/how-to seaching doesn't get you going, ask and we can walk you through either procedure.

[rena35283502sxwh]

Okay, I looked up the "cross-reference" on the internet, it referred me to this text: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/cross-references.html. I started reading and immediately found a problem: how do I make text anchors? I couldn't even by looking on the internet.
Could you explain how I can get them?
Thank you

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Cross refs and hyperlinks are a very fussy process, and some of the key actions are a bit hidden. I am surprised that help page has essentially no useful links to the other steps and components, and that searches for 'text anchor' turn up nothing. (So: it's not just you. 🙂 )

For the simple case where you have a word or phrase on one page ("Snakes Alive!") and want to create a link to that text, using the same text, on another page, the process is this:

• Select the destination text ("Snakes Alive!" on the destination page.)
• Click on the 'hamburger' menu of either the Hyperlinks or Cross-References pane.
• Select "New Hyperlink Destination..."
• Select Text Anchor as the type, and modify the selected text as/if desired. This will change the actual cross-reference link text, though.
• Put the cursor where you want the new link to that text.
• Click the + button at the bottom of the Cross-References pane, or click on the hamburger menu and select Insert Cross-Reference.
• Select Link to: Text Anchor.
• Select the name of the text anchor you just created. (Or, later, any one that is in the list.)
• At the bottom of the menu, select "Link Name" as the option. (If you did not change the text above, it will be the selected text; if you changed it, that string will be used instead.)
• Click OK.

You should now have a link reading "Snakes Alive!" that when clicked in a PDF export, takes you to the same text on the other page.

Explore these menus thoroughly. Cross refs in ID are enormously flexible and powerful, which means they have endless configuration and option settings. There are also several elements, including hyperlinks and text anchors, involved without really being explained or differentiated. I know there are better references and how-tos out there; it's annoyuing that Adobe's own help system comes up blank on the topic.

[rena35283502sxwh]

Hi James, thank you for you help, but I've found a different way to do it:

• select the text I would transform as a link
• right click (on mac control click) > New Hyperlink Destination
• select the name of Bookmark Previouslycreated (I would use anchor, but is not possible)

is it correct? How can I use text anchor?

thanks

[rena35283502sxwh]

this path bring me to same destination, but on panel I choose text anchor, I don't have the text I've selected, in the field I can choose just the anchor I've alredy done or "nothing".
so, this mean that I should have  already done the text anchor. How can I do that?

Thank you

Renareto

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Yes, you have to create the destination, the text anchor, first. There is no feature that will allow you to start from the link end as you can do with, say, web page links.

Create the text anchor at the destination location, with either the selected text or a link name.

Insert the cross-reference where you want the link, and it will display either the destination text or link name.

There are many, many configuration options for this function, so you can fine-tune its behavior to suit your preferences, but it's always going to be this two-step process.

[rena35283502sxwh]

"Create the text anchor at the destination location, with either the selected text or a link name."

Sorry, I still don't understand how can I create it. I mean: what menu item, click mouse or whatever...

Renareto

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Select the word or phrase you want to be the text anchor. If you want this text to appear as the link name, select it carefully; if you are going to create a different name for the link, just select a first or other key word at the location. In the example, this is 'porumet.'

On the Cross-References pane, click the 'hamburger' or three-line menu at upper right. From that list, select "New Hyperlink Destination." The menu shown will appear. Set the type to Text Anchor, and in Name, either leave the selected text or type the link name you want to appear. Click OK.

You now have a Text Anchor destination with that name to aim a cross-reference at. Insert the cursor where you want the link. In the Cross-Refs pane, click the + icon at the bottom to create a new cross-reference. In the New Cross-Reference menu, link to Text Anchor and select the newly created (or other) text anchor as the destination. Click OK. You should now have a link with the defined text that, in a PDF or other export doc, will link to the source Text Anchor.

As noted, this is a VERY configurable process and you can change nearly everything about how the anchors and links are generated and connected, all within the various menus found under that Cross-References main menu icon.

There is a lot of overlap between these features and the Hyperlink ones, including duplicate menu items and shared lists. It's all a system to use in any way that works best for you.

[rena35283502sxwh]

Hi James, I'm sorry I don't answer yet, but I'm trying to find the menu you showed me. As you can see, I’m Italian, not perfect english… so I’ve tried to discover the entry menu for the choice you send.
i.e.: "On the Cross-References pane” where do I find it?wich menu?
I’m sorry for the stupid question, but I’m a begginer. I know what I have to do but still don’t know how

Renareto

[rena35283502sxwh]

Anyway, I think I’ve to create an anchor text. Then manage an hyperlink . ISn’t it?
How can I create an anchor text?

[James Gifford—NitroPress · Accepted solution]

First, don't overlook the translate function here. It does a very good job, especially with the limited vocabulary we use.

The Cross-Reference pane is the pane or palette opened when you activate it from the Window menu list:

This list is where you open and close any palettes you need. Saving your setup as a Custom Workspace helps you recall the ones you use.

[rena35283502sxwh]

hello, james. i finally did it! following your last post!

Renareto

[rena35283502sxwh]

I would add than who use Indesign in Italian language, I can drive him in correct way to do that (Italian language is a bit different)

write me to renareto@gmail.com

[rena35283502sxwh]

HELP (non add)