Full Cross Reference

Question

If I have a document that contains multiple levels and I want to cross reference Paragraph 3.c.  Is there a way to use the full context "Paragraph 3.c." rather than simply cross referencing c.

Paragraph 3.  Text

        c. Text

Later in the document I'd like to cross-reference the entire reference to Paragraph 3.c. and have it point to c.

Is there a way?

Answer 1

When you insert a cross-reference to a numbered item, one of the options is "Paragraph number (full context)." That's the one you want.

Answer 2

People have been complaining about the Cross-reference dialog for many versions now. For some reason there has not been a large enough groundswell of protest to attract the attention of the design team. Complaints include the fact that the dialog isn't resizable, that it always resets to the top of the list, and also the functional issues you cite. By all means post a suggestion at http://word.uservoice.com/ (search first to make sure there's not already a suggestion you can vote for), then post back here with the URL so we can all pile on!

Answer 3

Hmmmm. Thanks. Well, that's another suggestion for better automation of Office that I shall make on the Office suggestions / improvements board!  Software should not be confusing, and it should not take days of experimentation to learn, with no gain in productivity (due to the manual process of configuring the references). Cross reference creation should not be dialog and drop down list (and with no examples provided) but a drag and drop method should be created and the style selected should be available, just like a formatted style).   Do we agree that would assist users, or do you feel that would be no real advantage? Do you otherwise agree the xref dialog use is pretty nasty?  :)

Answer 4

AFAIK, no, there is no way to get both paragraph number and paragraph text without using two Xrefs. Sorry!

Answer 5

Hi Suzzane - This needs some proper examples (and some hard talk!)  - I think if we are honest the cross reference insertion is one of the worst piece of software ever produced for Word.  It is UTTERLY unclear how to get what one wants from the options, as some of them appear ambiguous, and have zero effect when trying different things.   The productivity improvements of using MS Word for BASIC documents  through the past 10 years have, for me, been negative. There has been no improvement.   It is awful, and someone should be ashamed of how badly this thing works.

Now, here is my question for Office 2016, 365:  

The fact remains that there is no obvious way to include Paragraph number, and Heading text in one hit (and get that to repeat whenever its needed elsewhere... or this there, please?). This is what many of us want to do but have do mind-blowingly time consuming and inane 'experiments' each time we want the same thing, due to the fact there is no shortcut option one can create simply in the menu without a macro.   But, if necessary,  I shall give in and write one (which is a pain)!  Hoping for some light to be shed, and I really do not wish to learn to use formating language.  I just want to select a style of cross reference from a list of visible options.  Please can someone push for the options to be made obvious using examples, as one selects them on the dialog box? It would be so nice.