MS Word 2007: Cross-Reference Formatting Gone Haywire

[rphox2003]

I just cannot understand Word. Things will work fine for days, weeks on end and then all of a sudden something stops working or works differently.

I've been inserting cross-references for over a year now and Word inserts the ref with the same style as the para to which I insert it. All of a sudden, Word is inserting the ref in a different font size than the para style!!!!! And I can't change it (except maybe with local formatting which I refuse to do).

I found a fix that calls to add *\charformat to the ref field, which seems like more wasted effort, but I tried it anyway and it also doesn't do anything!

I just noticed that when I position the cursor inside the ref, Word indicates the correct style in the Styles pane - but the font size is still wrong. (BTW, the style DOES have the correct font size.)

Any help!!

Ok, after further fun and games I noticed that if I add a \* charformat (with a trailing space), Word retains the correct para style. BUT WHY DO I HAVE TO ADD THIS SWITCH ALL OF THE SUDDEN!?!

[Stefan Blom]

Note that if the cross-referenced paragraph has direct formatting applied to it, that formatting will be reflected in the cross-reference unless you use the \* CHARFORMAT switch. In other words, take a look at the formatting applied to the cross-referenced item(s).

The \* CHARFORMAT switch actually applies the formatting applied to the first character of the field code. Often, this is no different from the formatting applied to the actual paragraph, of course.

[rphox2003]

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.

[Stefan Blom]

Direct formatting is formatting not applied via a paragraph style. Usually, direct formatting is local, but nothing prevents you from selecting a whole document and applying bold formatting to it (for example by pressing Ctrl+B), which is why direct formatting is a better term.

Which kind of formatting is being incorrectly applied to the cross-references? Bold? Underline? Something else? Does that same formatting appear elsewhere in the document, for example in the cross-referenced captions?

[rphox2003]

The funny thing is that if I place the cursor in the cross-ref, the Styles pane indicates that it is the same style as the rest of the para - but it has a smaller font size!

[Stefan Blom]

What about the cross-referenced item then? If you select it and press Ctrl+SpaceBar (to remove direct font formatting and reset to the underlying style), what happens?

[rphox2003]

I don't think I should have to remove something (direct formatting) that I didn't put there in the first place.

I'm trying to save myself work, not add more. Isn't there just some setting somewhere that may have been changed -although I certainly didn't do it.

[Stefan Blom]

If you try resetting the formatting, does it make a difference (after you update the cross-reference)?