Change Default from "Insert Entire Caption"

  • Thread starter Thread starter JenC
  • Start date Start date
J

JenC

I use table/figure captions and cross-referencing a lot (currently using Word
2007, but same issue for other versions).

When I insert a cross-reference, the default is always to insert the "Entire
Caption" as the cross-reference. I can change this (for example, if I'm
inserting a table cross-reference, I change it to "Only Label and Number"),
but as soon as I switch to inserting a figure cross-reference, the default
switches back to "Entire Caption" again. When I'm switching often between
figures and tables, it's extra clicks every time, which is very annoying!

This drives me crazy - I never, never insert an entire caption as a
cross-reference! Is there some way to make "label and number" the default
option for cross-references? I've looked but can't find it anywhere.

Thanks,
Jen
 
Argh! Well, thanks anyway. At least now I know I'm wasting my time because of
a Word bug and not because I just don't know how to do it. :)

I wonder what the developers were basing that feature on - I don't think I
have ever, ever seen a cross-reference to an entire table or figure caption!
It would look ridiculous.
 
It becomes more and more clear that the folks who design Word have
never read, let alone written, a book, let alone an academic journal.
 
Hi Pam,

I actually "Insert Entire Caption" quite often when I'm doing
cross-referencing. I write scientific reports, and typically have hundreds
of pages of tables, some of which are so long they span mupltiple pages.
I've found that by cross-referencing the automatically numbered Caption
title at the top of the "parent" tables using "Insert Entire Caption" at the
top of each continuation table, that whenever the table titles change
(mostly renumbering), that all of the titles for the continuations update
without my having to do so manually. So it would look like {cross-reference
goes here} (continued). On the other hand, I often cross-reference using
"Only Label and Number" option in the body of my reports, but I probably end
up using each option about as often as I do the other, so it wouldn't really
matter to me which option was the "default".

David
 
You could insert a bookmark enclosing exactly the piece of text that you
want to cross-reference, and then insert a cross-reference to the bookmark.
 
But the situation you describe is surely quite rare in the universe of
cross references to tables. Obviously it ought to be available to you,
but it doesn't make sense for it to be the default for everyone.
 
Hi Pam,

I totally agree with you. I was just giving an example for those who "have
never seen a cross-reference to a table or caption". As I said, for my needs
it wouldn't matter which is the default, but I certainly agree that "Only
Label and Number" is the more rational choice.

David


Pamelia Caswell via OfficeKB.com said:
Hi, David,

Yes, your method is a good way of getting in those "continueds" that Word
also doesn't do.
Note though that my desire is to have the ability set the default to my
preference, not to have Word change its default for everybody to "my way".


Pam
Hi Pam,

I actually "Insert Entire Caption" quite often when I'm doing
cross-referencing. I write scientific reports, and typically have hundreds
of pages of tables, some of which are so long they span mupltiple pages.
I've found that by cross-referencing the automatically numbered Caption
title at the top of the "parent" tables using "Insert Entire Caption" at
the
top of each continuation table, that whenever the table titles change
(mostly renumbering), that all of the titles for the continuations update
without my having to do so manually. So it would look like
{cross-reference
goes here} (continued). On the other hand, I often cross-reference using
"Only Label and Number" option in the body of my reports, but I probably
end
up using each option about as often as I do the other, so it wouldn't
really
matter to me which option was the "default".

David
Argh! Well, thanks anyway. At least now I know I'm wasting my time
because
of
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[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
Thanks,
Jen
Click to expand...
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Click to expand...
 
It has been driving me crazy too. I use APA style, which as far as I know recommends that one use the second option, only label and number.

At the beginning of each editing session I have to change each cross reference type to only label and number.

And sometimes the default reverts to the original default.

It is very frustrating that one can not change the default.

Since I never use it, nor foresee ever using it, I would be happy to be able to delete the "Entire caption" option but I guess that is not possible either.

I would say I have wasted a couple of hours of my life on this issue.
 
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