Stopping cross references from taking source text formatting?

G

Guest

I have bookmarked text on page 1 and many cross references to it throughout a
document. When I update the cross reference fields, the text formatting for
the source text (on page 1) comes with it.

Is there a way to allow the xref's to retain there own formatting
characteristics and not grab them from the source text?

Thanks in advance.
 
S

Stefan Blom

Add the \* MERGEFORMAT switch to the code of each REF field. This
allows you to format each cross-reference differently from its source.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message
news:[email protected]...
 
G

Guest

Darrell,
Here is my experience w/Word 2003 on Win.XP. For the MERGEFORMAT to work,
you must first apply the formatting that you want to the cross ref's - for
example, a "Link" character style that you have created. (If you want the
cross ref's to be just plain text, click Clear Formatting in the Styles &
Formatting pane.)

If you apply the character style from the Formatting toolbar or the Styles &
Formatting pane, then MERGEFORMAT should be added to the field
'automagically' to the field. (To check, view field codes -- press Alt+F9 --
the MERGEFORMAT should "pop in" to the code as soon as you apply the char.
formatting, then click in the doc.) Note that if you use a keyboard shortcut
to apply the character style, MERGEFORMAT is <not> added automatically to the
field. :-(

It also cannot be applied to the field on a search/replace of the REF field
definition. You can s/r the field definition to include the MERGEFORMAT code
after your REF details, but a replacement char. style will not be applied in
the actual reference. Weird. To s/r the REF contents, view them with Alt+F9,
copy what's there. For example, { REF mybookmark \h }. Replace this with:
REF mybookmark \h \* MERGEFORMAT
Include 2 spaces after the last switch/before the \* and include a space at
the end.

In the future, instead of inserting cross ref's to a bookmark, you can
insert a REF field and include the options you want, e.g. hyperlink to para.
-- and also check "Preserve formatting during updates." That = MERGEFORMAT.
You'll still need to apply the char. formatting that you want.

Hope this isn't too long & convoluted.
 

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