Updating manual page no. references automatically?

James

This topic has 7 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 5 months ago by James.

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- November 19, 2014 at 9:17 pm #71727
  
  James
  Member
  
  Good afternoon,
  
  I am updating a 150 page document, with multiple references to pages (for example ‘Please refer to page 35’).
  I have been asked to insert two additional pages at the beginning of the document, therefore I am looking for a simple way to update all ‘Please refer to page nn’ references to ‘Please refer to page nn+2’.
  
  I am using InDesign CS2, but am hopeful that it’s possible to automate this process. Otherwise, I shall have to increment each page reference manually.
  
  Thank you in advance!
- November 19, 2014 at 10:56 pm #71728
  
  Alan Gilbertson
  Participant
  
  David will remember better than I do, but from what I recall CS2 did not have functioning cross-references, so it’s going to be either a custom script (perhaps Tomaxxi or Jongware will jump in here) or it will be a matter of updating by hand. Not the news you wanted to hear, unfortunately.
- November 19, 2014 at 11:05 pm #71729
  
  James
  Member
  
  Thank you Alan.
  
  I am already preparing myself to use the Find/Replace function, with the following strings:
  
  page 150 –> page 152
  page 149 –> page 151
  page 148 –> page 150
  
  etc.
  
  I realised that it’s necessary to perform such an operation in reverse to prevent ‘double-adding’!
- November 20, 2014 at 5:10 am #71730
  
  Eugene Tyson
  Member
  
  Yes working in reverse is needed here.
  
  I’d also be inclined to add a character style with a thick underline
  
  Then search and replace “page” and apply the character style through the find/replace function.
  
  Makes it easier for checking when printed so you can easily find all occurrences.
  
  Although – if you upgrade to CC InDesign has built in cross reference function that would update them automatically.
- November 20, 2014 at 7:15 am #71732
  
  David Blatner
  Keymaster
  
  That’s what this script is for:
  https://creativepro.com/free-script-to-change-all-numbers-in-a-document-using-math.php
  
  But I’m not sure if it works in CS2. That’s very very old software.
  - November 20, 2014 at 3:04 pm #71749
    
    Alan Gilbertson
    Participant
    
    CS2 is where I came in, as far as InDesign is concerned. It seemed quite spiffy at the time… :) Funny how fast “state of the art” becomes quaintly antiquated.
- November 20, 2014 at 5:19 pm #71751
  
  James
  Member
  
  Thank you for the additional replies chaps.
  
  Yes, I’m waiting to upgrade to a new shiny new machine that with Adobe CC installed. This current project will likely be one of the last I work on using CS2. It has served me well for 8 years or so! ;)
  
  David, thank you for linking the NumberAdjuster script. I gave it a try on a quick test document, but an error is thrown after clicking the ‘OK’ button – ‘Object does not support the property or method ‘findGrepPreferences’, which I assume indicates the script is not compatible with CS2. However, even if it does work, I cannot see how to update just the references with ‘page nn’, and not all numbers, as the wildcard only accepts single characters.
  
  So, it looks like I will be updating this document ‘by hand’, with the help of the Find/Replace dialogue box.
  
  Thank you for your suggestions!
- November 20, 2014 at 5:20 pm #71752
  
  James
  Member
  
  Ah yes, according to the explanation in the script:
  
  “This InDesign CS3/CS4 JavaScript is intended to perform operations on found numbers. It uses the find/change Grep functions
  to find numbers within either the entire document, or just the selection. You can select to search for just numbers with
  a specific character style, and/or a prefix character.
  
  This script was written by Steve Wareham at stevewareham.com based on an idea by David Blatner at indesignsecrets.com”
  
  Oh well, not to worry! ;)
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