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ebenpublishing
Inspiring
July 19, 2012
Answered

Unresolved or out of date cross references in the document

  • July 19, 2012
  • 8 replies
  • 49190 views

hi, i was going to export my document into PDF for press and this massage "There are unresolved or out-of-date cross references in the document" showed up. I can't find out where the problem is, because ID signals no error in the document in the Preflight... i checked all the hyperlinks and converted them into text but it didn't solve the problem.  any hints? thanks a lot

      Correct answer mazlans39801750

      I'm try to view the text in "edit in Story Editor" and search for this item. Delete it if possible, and my problem solved.

      8 replies

      Denis Senatsky
      Denis Senatsky
      Participating Frequently
      November 18, 2023

      This little script will solve the ‘Unresolved or out-of-date cross-references’ problem:

      app.activeDocument.crossReferenceSources.everyItem().remove();
        S
        Shanpub
        Inspiring
        December 21, 2023

        Thanks, @Denis Senatsky It worked for me.

        keithconover
        keithconover
        Inspiring
        May 31, 2024

        I have a multi-chapter book for which one of the chapters is giving me the dreaded:

        However, if I check the cross-references panel (only one page shown below, but it's green lights all the way down):

        I tried updating the Table of Contents: didn't fix the error message.

        I tried opening the book file/Book Panel and selecting the "Update All Cross-References" and that didn't work.

        As noted in a different post (https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-cc-2017-links-always-red-in-hyperlinks-panel/m-p/14653214#M576019), I have some spurious red lights in my HYPERLINKS panel. I suspect it's a HYPERLINK issue and that the error message erroneously conflates Cross-References and Hyperlinks. I have resolved to simply ignore this message, recommending that, if I am right, (a) Adobe rename the error message to read "Cross-References or Hyperlinks" instead of just "Cross-References," (and "Links, TOC entries, Cross-References or Hyperlinks" if that is the case) and (b) Adobe address this issue of hyperlinks that show an error when it's not an error for readers of the document, allowing some way for users to override this somehow. And if I am wrong and there is a fix, I will be quite happy.

        mazlans39801750
        mazlans39801750Correct answer
        Participant
        September 13, 2018

        I'm try to view the text in "edit in Story Editor" and search for this item. Delete it if possible, and my problem solved.

          S
          somehope4u
          Participant
          March 13, 2018

          hi every one

          this problem from special character  like  ʃ you can see it from show hidden character

          you can take the text to word and remove any style and format then take it again to indesign and the problem will resolve

          typegirl
          typegirl
          Known Participant
          September 30, 2016

          I had 4 such errors and updating my TOC solved it for me.

          SmartGraphicArt
          SmartGraphicArt
          Inspiring
          December 16, 2015

          I've been chasing phantom cross references in one document in a Book file that was imported from Word. I decided to export the document to InCopy to see if I could find them. Tada! There they all were in the InCopy Story view, showing up as random open Cross Reference tags. I deleted all of the unwanted tags in the Story window and exported the document back to InDesign, and POOF! no more unresolved cross references when I exported the Book to PDF.

          YAY!!!

          M
          Mark Dukas
          Participant
          June 21, 2013

          I had the same problem. After a bit of sleuthing I found the following easy solution:

          Top Menu: drill down: Window > Interactive > Hyperlinks

          this will open a panel, with the offending cross references shown in the list (it will have a little "red flag")

          select it

          then on the bottom / left of the panel you will find an icon (arrow pointing to a page), click that icon and it will take

          you directly to the location of the offending un-resolved cross reference. And you can resolve it!

            R
            RichardSwearinger
            Known Participant
            August 24, 2014

            Thank you for providing the answer and may the blessings from the Great Designer In the Sky pour down upon you and may you never be Greeked without your consent.

              Sandee Cohen
              Sandee Cohen
              Legend
              August 13, 2012

              I've got a file with the same problem.

              There are no x-refs in the Hyperlinks panel and preflight reports no unresolved hyperlinks/x-refs.

              I've exported the file as a IDML and then re-opened it but still have the same error message.

              I understand that exporting will "strip" away any interactivity, but it concerns me that this message pops up. It feels like the file is damaged somehow.

              In addition, I will be passing the project to my publisher and don't want them or the print shop to be concerned by the error message.

              P
              peter minneapolis
              Participating Frequently
              August 14, 2012

              Have you searched the IDML for the x-refs? 

              Just wildly guessing - they might be embedded in placed items.

              It might be possible to find the location of the bogus reference by breaking the file in half, testing each half, then repeating the process on whichever half has the problem, until you're down to a single page.

              HTH

              Regards,

              Peter

              _______________________

              Peter Gold

              KnowHow ProServices     

              Sandee Cohen wrote:

              I've got a file with the same problem.

              There are no x-refs in the Hyperlinks panel and preflight reports no unresolved hyperlinks/x-refs.

              I've exported the file as a IDML and then re-opened it but still have the same error message.

              I understand that exporting will "strip" away any interactivity, but it concerns me that this message pops up. It feels like the file is damaged somehow.

              In addition, I will be passing the project to my publisher and don't want them or the print shop to be concerned by the error message.

                Sandee Cohen
                Sandee Cohen
                Legend
                August 14, 2012

                Peter,

                Thanks for the suggestions. But  how would I search the IDML file? I've create the IDML file and then reopened it as an ID file. Are you suggesting something else?

                I'll try the half document system.

                peter at knowhowpro wrote:
                Have you searched the IDML for the x-refs?  
                It might be possible to find the location of the bogus reference by breaking the file in half, testing each half, then repeating the process on whichever half has the problem, until you're down to a single page.
                Steve Werner
                Community Expert
                Steve WernerCommunity Expert
                Community Expert
                July 19, 2012

                If you're creating a PDF for the press, you wouldn't need to worry about cross-references. Export as PDF/X and all the interactivity will be stripped out.

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