Cross-reference auto-page numers?

Question

Can anyone tell me why i cannot get cross-references to work with  automatic page numbering?  Is there some fundamental error i am  making?  I have the master files setup with auto-page numbering based on  'current page.'  All of my pages are numbered sequentially as 1, 2, 3,  etc. and setup with a unique paragraph style.  however, when i try to  reference a page number in the document, none of the pages show up under  the paragraph style in the cross-reference menu.  I have even tried to  use ctrl+shft+click on the desired reference page to bring the page number frame  from the master file onto that specific page, but the text still does  not show up in the cross-references menu.  I feel as though i must be  making some sort of mistake because it seems this could be one of the  more obvious/widespread uses for the cross-reference feature.  Any help  would be great.  Perhaps there is simply another way to do  this?  Thanks!
Garrett

Answer 1

GarrettTV wrote:
Peter,
I understand that this is probably a more specific use of the feature, no doubt.  It is ultimately unrealistic to expect a program to work exactly as each individual user's project approach dictates.  I dont take the comment as a slam, dont fret.
My confusion and concern ultimately stems from the fact that, on the surface (granted, I am definitely not a programmer ), it seems like the ability to directly reference the page number would be, almost inherently, already built-in in the sense that the page number is recognized as a product of content placement.  In other words, if the cross-reference knows that changes to the document composition have caused my referenced content to move from auto-numbered page 36 to auto-numbered page 37, yet the reference cannot exist to simply the page number itself.  It has to exist via the content on taht page.  Hopefully I have provided and explanation which makes sense!
In all honesty, the ability to reference only content and not also page number is only goingot set me back about half.  For my sake, I have a 300 page document which includes hundreds of figures/illustrations, all of which correspond to text explanations in a different part of the document.  Over time, it is anticipated that standards and graphics will be added/subtracted/changed, and therefore, so will the section numbering, page numbering, figure numbering, and the corresponding pages on which all of these pieces of info will occur.  We would like to correspond figures and sections to one number; in this case, the page.  Because each figure/illustration will have it's own page, it is desired to make the figure number and page number match to achieve an easier means of navigating the book.  Basically, I want the text section, which will be read first, to reference figure numbers and/or page numbers (at this point, i have the option of choosing one or the other), but both of these numbers are going to dynamically update.
So, if that made any sense at all (ha), is there a way to use the cross references to point at a number that is set to automatically/dynamically change?  If there is not, then perhaps I will simply have to create static figure numbers for the referenced content and then just let the page numbers change over time.  If you have any other suggestions, I am definitely open to exploring them!
Thanks for the continued help!
Garrett
Hi, Garrett:
If I understand your description correctly, it seems that you're asking for an unusual numbering/navigation approach. Is there an example that you've seen that works this way, and that you want to emulate? Is this a publishing style/convention in the particular industry?
Am I correct in imagining that in a document that contains three figures on discontiguous pages, they might be numbered something like this:
Page #
Figure #
1
1
15
15
250
250
This would result in no figures 2, 3...14...249. Would your document have references to figure 15 on page 15? Would you want your list of figures (LOF) to resemble:
Figure  number and title                                                     Page     
   1.  Example of the widget in question .............................    1
15.  Example of another widget .........................................  15
(sorry about the messy table layout - the HTML is tricky)
Would your audience be concerned that the figure numbers are not consecutive across a multi-chapter book, or consecutive within a chapter, and restart in each chapter? That is, would a reader think that some figures are missing?
Is there a specific objection to figure 11 on page 26 becoming figure 11 on page 28, if text content were inserted, or becoming figure 16 on page 29 if figures were inserted? When numbered-list paragraph styles and cross-reference formats are set up properly, cross-references to these figures would update to indicate both the correct number and correct page.
Have I misunderstood something?
[EDIT]
I forgot to ask if your document will be using cross-references interactively in a PDF or other multimedia format. If so, can you give more detail on your expectations?
Have you looked into InDesign hyperlinks? They can refer to a page number - either "sticking" to the designated page no matter if its page number changes because of reflow or being moved, or "sticking" to whatever happens to become the "n-th" page if the original page is relocated. Search Help for Create a hyperlink to a page.
[/EDIT]
HTH
Regards,
Peter
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
Message was edited by: peter at knowhowpro