Multiple document cross references

[LAP]

I am using Word 2002 and I have several documents that
are formatted with numbered headings (outline). I would
like to reference particular heading numbers across
documents so that if the outline changes in one document
the references update in the other document. I tried to
put all of them in a master document but when I created
the cross reference it displayed a 0.

Is this even possible?

Thanks

 

[macropod]

Hi LAP,

First: avoid Word's master documents like the plague. They'll only cause you
grief in the long run, because there are only two types: those that have
corrupted and those that will corrupt.

Yes, you can import multiple source documents, or portions of them, into a
target document, using the INCLUDETEXT field. Look for INCLUDETEXT in
Word's help file. One problem you may still encounter is that numbered paras
in the source documents will get re-numbered in the target document to suit
whatever numbering scheme the target document uses. The only real way of
overcoming that is to make sure that the style names used to number paras in
the source documents differ from the style names used in the target
document.

Cheers

 

[LAP]

Thanks for the tip about master documents. INCLUDETEXT
field won't work because it will only insert the text of
a bookmarked item and I want to insert the heading number
only. It seems like this would be a commonly needed
functionality.

 

[macropod]

Hi LAP,

"heading number only"? If you mean a numbered heading, an INCLUDETEXT field
will pull that across if you bookmark it.

Another option, which will build a TOC based on the headings in a number of
source documents, is the RD field. You may be able to set up a set of TOCs
in your target document formatted as you'd like them to appear and use RD
fields pointing to each of the source documents to bring just the headings
over.

Cheers