3 Replies Latest reply: Nov 21, 2013 7:26 AM by alanomaly RSS

    How can 'Update Cross References' button be greyed out when cross reference needs updating?

    alanomaly Community Member
    alanomaly Mar 20, 2013 10:23 AM

      Simple question. Here's a screenshot: surely this situation should be impossible?

       

      http://i.imgur.com/h07eQkW.png

      All of my cross references that need to be updated are like this: the warning message shows this cross reference needs updating, but the 'Update cross references' button is greyed out, with the cursor 'No entry' sign showing on mouseover and nothing happening when I click on it. It's telling me to click the Update button, but the Update button is greyed out.

       

      After reading Why is [Some Feature] Grayed Out in InDesign? I tried using different tools, changing view modes, swapping between text and text frames selected and deselected, in case there's some secret condition that needs to be met, but nothing makes it work.

       

      It knows that the cross-references needs updating: what could make InDesign think it needs to grey out the update button to prevent me from following its own advice?

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        • 1. Re: How can 'Update Cross References' button be greyed out when cross reference needs updating?
          alanomaly Community Member
          alanomaly Mar 20, 2013 10:39 AM (in response to alanomaly)

          Huh, it looks like, unlike the Links panel, you can either update all cross references at once, or none, ever.

           

          It looks like Indesign isn't capable of just updating one cross reference (the way you can with links in the links panel).

           

          Hopefully I'm wrong, but it un-greys itself as soon as I deselect the cross reference I want to update. I can't see any sign of any tool to update just one cross reference (like the 'Update link' button in the Links panel).

           

          EDIT: Well this isn't it, according to the official help docs it should be possible to update one at a time:

          Select one or more out-of-date cross-references. To update all cross-references, make sure that none are selected.

           

          EDIT 2: All three of the possible places to update cross references are greyed out - including the flyout menu and Type > Hyperlinks & Cross References > Update Cross Reference

           

          EDIT 3: Updating all cross references at once by using the button with nothing selected does work, so the cross references are definitely capable of being updated.

           

          Version is CS6 (8.0.1) for Mac (Lion).

          • 2. Re: How can 'Update Cross References' button be greyed out when cross reference needs updating?
            customer987654321 Community Member
            customer987654321 Nov 6, 2013 12:39 PM (in response to alanomaly)

            The Cross Reference updating has a glitche that ADOBE MUST FIX!!!!.

            I use cross refrences to identify figure numbers I am refering to in text body so that if I add, delete, or move the figure to another page and the number changes I can simply update cross references and all is well.

             

            Today, in my CC version, I moved an illustratioon and the figure number changed but I could not update cross references. The only way it would update was that I needed to go into the hyperlinks panel (your illustration reminded me to go there) and when I double clicked the currently incorrect figure number to see where it was referring to it magically updated. I do not want to have to do this for every every one of my 1023 cross references!!!!!! All options to update cross references are grey and do not work in my system. Not Happy with that!

             

            Adobe needs to do some work on this one!!!!

            • 3. Re: How can 'Update Cross References' button be greyed out when cross reference needs updating?
              alanomaly Community Member
              alanomaly Nov 21, 2013 7:26 AM (in response to customer987654321)

              So your 'Update cross references' button is greyed out even though there are cross references that need updating? That sounds like a bug - all I can guess is that maybe InDesign's cross referencing falls apart with more than 1,000 cross references.

               

              I'd try copying and pasting a few pages to a new blank document, and/or temporarily delete some to bring the number down, to see if it starts working again. Won't solve the problem but if you know exactly what the bug is, you can at least find ways to avoid it.

               

              Don't hold your breath on this ever getting fixed. Now that you're a CC subscriber, Adobe still get a constant feed of your money whether they fix the problem or not.

               

              For as long as Adobe still feel like a monopoly, there's now no reason for them to make meaningful improvements or bug fixes. Expect them to do nothing but take your money every month and you won't be disappointed.