Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Use
Automatic
Numbers
and
Cross-references
in
Nisus
Writer Pro
The final Nisus Writer Pro automation tool I want to mention is actually a combination of
twofeatures—automatic numbersandcross-references. I'veusedbothdozensoftimesinthis
book. Let me tell you why they're cool.
Nisus Writer Pro can automatically number almost anything that you like—pages, sections,
lists (such as the seven steps just above), figure numbers (as seen throughout this topic),
tables, and the like. These numbers are variables that update themselves automatically.
So, if I'm creating a list that has six items (numbered 1-6) and I press Return to create a
seventh item, it's numbered 7 automatically; if I insert, remove, or reorder part of the list,
all the numbers update themselves. Similarly, if I use automatic numbering for figures, I can
freely add, delete, or rearrange figures without ever worrying that the figure numbers in the
captions will be out of order.
That part is useful but not terribly unusual; most word processors can do something of
the sort. Where it gets cool is cross-references to the automatic numbers. For instance, I
might have a graphic that's labeled “Figure 12,” and near it I say, “see Figure 12.” I want
that reference to update itself automatically if, later in the development of the topic, that
graphic turns out to be Figure 15 instead. So instead of just typing the reference, I insert a
cross-reference to the text of that automatic number. As the figure number itself changes, so
does the textual cross-reference!
Note:
Nisus Writer Pro can do this trick with lots of things, not just with automatic
numbers. Any time text in one part of a document changes, cross-references to that
text elsewhere can update themselves. (That's what we've done with all the links in
this topic to other topics—if I should happen to rename a heading, the text of the link
updates too.)
Editor's Note:
We've been using figure numbering and cross-references in Nisus
Writer Pro for about a year here at Take Control topics, and one aspect of them
that we've found quite refreshing (compared to our earlier tools) is that they've been
reliable
, even in 150+ page documents with lots of change tracking.
A full explanation of how to use automatic numbering and cross-references in Nisus Writer
Pro would take many pages, so I'll walk you through just one example:
1. Begin by creating a new list style, just for figure numbers. In a Nisus Writer Pro
document, choose Format > Lists > Edit List Styles.
