WD: Extra Character in Cross-Reference to Paragraph Number

ID: Q113104

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, version 6.0

SYMPTOMS

A cross-reference to a paragraph number in a multilevel numbered list may incorrectly include an extra character in your Word document. The cross- reference may contain the letter "Y" with an umlaut accent, or it may contain a hollow rectangle character.

CAUSE

This happens only when you format the multilevel numbered list using one of the legal or technical multilevel formats and then insert a Bookmark cross- reference to the paragraph mark.

The problem occurs when you select any of the following technical or legal predefined formats in the Format Bullets and Numbering dialog box under the Multilevel tab:

   1.                     1                      1.
      1.1.                   1.1                 1.1.
           1.1.1.                 1.1.1          1.1.1.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Word.

To work around this problem, select and delete the unnecessary character from the cross-reference. Because the cross-reference is a field, you must not update it after you delete the character or it will reappear. Use any of the following methods to prevent the field from updating after you modify its results.

Method 1

Unlink the field by selecting it and pressing CTRL+SHIFT+F9.

The disadvantage to this method is that the cross-reference will no longer update automatically if you edit your document such that the paragraph number changes. In this case, you must delete the unlinked cross-reference and reinsert it using the Cross- Reference command on the Insert menu.

Method 2

Lock the field by selecting it and pressing CTRL+F11. If you later edit your document so the paragraph number changes, you can unlock the field (press CTRL+SHIFT+F11), update it, remove the unnecessary character, and relock the field.

Method 3

If you don't want to lock or unlink the field, you can prevent it from updating by turning off the Update Fields option. (To display the Update Fields option, choose Options from the Print menu and then select the Print tab.)

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Word listed above. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows.

Additional query words: junk box boxes umlat corrupt extra extraneous incorrect

Keywords          : kbfield winword macword word6 word7 word95 
Version           : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a;WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 7, 1998