I have a question that no amount of googling can seem to answer!



I have a numbered list for a financial document -

1) Fixed assets

2) Intangible assets

3) Stock

4) Debtors

etc

I like having it as a numbered list (using styles) because it allows me to add in a new section and it will automatically renumber itself.

I have a reference to a number in wording further up, for example "For information on debtors see note 4".

But if I change the numbering, for example I remove "3) Stock", then Debtors becomes note 3.

Then I also have to remember to update the wording to reference it to note 3.

Is there a way of linking them so it happens automatically?

I am sure there is, but I cannot work out how to do it!

Thanks!

Most fields, such as cross-references, in Word do not update automatically. For cross-references, what you can do is switch to Print Preview (Ctrl+F2) and then return to your previous view (ESC).

The only way to automate the updating is by running a macro, for example each time the document opens.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thanks for your reply Stefan.

I have not been able to successfully cross reference to a number from a numbered list.

Can you tell me how to do this?

Click References tab | Cross-reference. Assuming that you are using auto numbering, choose "Numbered item" for "Reference type"; then make a selection in the "Insert reference to" drop down. For example, you can choose "Paragraph number" or "Page number." When you are done, click Insert.

Note that if you edit the document, you may have to update cross-references. The easiest way is switching to Print Preview as I suggested in an earlier post.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Awesome, that worked perfectly.

Many thanks!

I'm glad I could help. Thank you for the feedback.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional