Thanks for your quick reply.

I'm not sure what direct formatting is. Is it the same as local formatting, which applies to a single word or sentence? I use only para styles - except if I need to bold a word here or there.

For a cross-ref, I usually type the intro in a paragraph (style). Add a table or graphic in the next para. Add the caption to the table/graphic. Place the cursor at the beginning of the intro (para) and insert the cross-ref. I don't understand why this has stopped to pick up the para style of the intro.