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A cross-reference refers to an item that appears in another location in a document. For example, you can mention "Figure 1" in your document and refer the reader to the figure's location elsewhere in the document. By default, Word inserts a cross-reference as a hyperlink that you can click to be taken directly to the cross-referenced item. You can create cross-references to items such as headings, footnotes, bookmarks, captions, and numbered paragraphs. If you add or remove content that causes the referenced item to move, you can update the cross-reference.
Do any of the following:
Create a cross-reference
You can insert cross references to any existing numbered items, headings, bookmarks, footnotes, endnotes, equations, figures, or tables in your document.
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On the View menu, click Print Layout.
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Position the cursor where you want the cross-reference to appear.
For example, if you introduce your cross-reference with the words For more information, see, add a space after the word see, and then position the cursor after the space.
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On the Insert menu, click Cross-reference.
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On the Reference type pop-up menu, click the kind of item you want to refer to.
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On the Insert reference to pop-up menu, click the description that you want to appear in the document.
For example, if you create a cross-reference for a table, selecting Above/below inserts the word "above" if the table is located above the cross-reference.
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In the For which caption box, click the specific item you want the cross-reference to refer to.
Note: If you don't want the cross-reference to be a clickable hyperlink, clear the Insert as hyperlink check box.
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Click Insert.
Update a cross-reference from one page to another
Use this procedure if you move the item that you're cross-referencing from one page to another. For example, if you have a cross reference to a table and then move the table to another page, you must update the cross reference.
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On the View menu, click Print Layout.
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Do one of the following:
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To |
Do this |
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Update a specific cross-reference |
Point to the cross-reference, press CONTROL and click the cross-reference that you want to update, and then click Update Field. |
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Update all cross-references in the document |
Select the whole document, press CONTROL and anywhere on the document, and then click Update Field. |
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Note: If you see Error! Bookmark not defined. or Error! Reference source not found., the cross-referenced item is no longer in the document.
