table of content - last page number

[cmoke73]

Hi.

Now i wanna make the table of contents of a book. All I need for it are:

- the name of each chapter (no problem)

- the number of the first page from each chapter (no problem as well)

- the number of the last page (PROBLEM!)

Is there a solution without script? (no time for that)

[Peter Spier]

The built-in TOC module cannot do page ranges. Index can do it, though, if you don't need a real index, or perhaps a manually built TOC using cross-references.

[Peter Spier]

It occurs to me, after saying that, the easiest thing would probably be to just create the standard TOC, then add the last page number manually. It should be pretty clear what that is from the start number of the next chapter.

[cmoke73]

I feared it. I will do well then.

Thankx Peter.

[cmoke73]

Unfortunatly I have to add a question. I tried to solve this problem with cross-references. My idea was to use them in conjunction with an (unvisible) text variable ("last page number") on the first page of each chapter. But it wasn´t recognized by the reference, just after I´ve converted it to plain text. After the convertion it lost its dynamic function.

So it is not possible to use the function "last page number" for a kind of faked TOC made by cross-references, isn´t it?

[Peter Spier]

It's been a few years since I needed cross-refs in a project, so I'm rusty, but it does look to me as if they are not able to do a page range directly. You would need to do something like create a text anchor at the start, and another at the end of the chapter, and use cross-refs to both in your TOC listing. This is really a lot more work than just putting your cursor after the page number in the normal TOC and typing in the en-dash and last page number (and personally, I don't really think you need an end number in a TOC).

[cmoke73]

Unfortunatly I need a "last page number" in that project. It was not my idea.

Of course, it could be easier just to type the number at the end of each line. But I wanted to create a dynamic TOC can be used by everybody who is working on that project next time.Even if one insert pages at the end of some of the documents in that book the TOC should actualize the page numbers in a correct way.

[Willi Adelberger]

Make a last Letter Character Style at the end of each chapter, so it is easier to create a Cross Reference to that Character. E.g. make it with an invisible color, so it is only seen technically by InDesign itself.

[cmoke73]

Hi Willi!

You mean, I should make manually a mark at the last pages of each chapter with a special character style. Now I can make this characters invisible or give them an attribute "no printing". However, it works ... until somebody (who maybe do not know about details in that document/book) add some pages at the end of the chapter(s). From then on it is no longer the last page.

But maybe I misunderstand your proposial.