Cross-Reference to a Line Number

As a court reporter, generating line-numbered transcripts, I can absolutely see a need for this feature. In Minnesota, I don't need to create a table of contents that includes the line number with the page number, but I'd be surprised if there were no jurisdiction that required the marking, offering, and ruling on an exhibit, for instance, to require both page and line number.

To that end, I expect a macro would be required, to be run when all editing of the document is complete. I don't have the time, and perhaps not all the skills, required to write that macro, but generally, the problem could be solved by bookmarking everything that needs to be referenced by page and line number. Then your macro would step through and note the relative height of each bookmark on each page; it would then translate the measurement into a line number. It would require an inflexible top margin and font point size and a preprogrammed lookup table of the height of each numbered line.

Peter, if you're reading this, you may reach out to me directly, if you like, and perhaps we can figure something out for you.

Timothy J. McGowan
Court reporter
Mankato, Minnesota, USA

One observation on Allen's comments.

Interpreting "transitory" as changing, you can put a bookmark on a "transitory" content, for example the file name. Inserting the field code for filename, bookmark it, and insert a cross reference on bookmark works. You may have to select the cross reference and <F9> it to update as required.

NOTE: when defining the bookmark, make the name descriptive so you can easily pick out the right one from a list in the dialog.

The problem with line numbers is that they are even more changeable than field codes. The line numbers are defined in the User Interface, liker formatting a box around the paragraph. You set them in the UI, there is nothing in the document for you to select and bookmark to create the reference to.

I just thought of a manual work around if your job has an absolute requirement for reference to line numbers. But I would argue strongly against using it because it is very manual and it is easy to forget to update it. I understand, some jobs have a process or even regulatory requirement for that sort of line reference, but that is based on very "old school" conditions, ie documents that were created on typewriters or manual type setting printers.

The idea is:
Create a text box or table on left margin, in the header or footer (so it automatically appears on every page). Put your line numbers in it. Set the left margin of the body text so that text does not cover the line numbers.

(see Figure 1 below)

Apparently you don't have to modify the page margin:

This YouTube shows how to do it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8iPk9160H0

As I said, I would talk to whoever and explain the problem. Ask for permission to use the bookmarked cross reference to automate the update of the reference (no longer to a specific line, but to something on the specific line. Using Word's features to Automate updating the reference will help avoid errors. It is unfortunate that MS did not bother to include creating references to the line number feature, but they didn't, and certainly won't do it now.


Miguel, does this answer your question. Page Numbers are done via field codes, which can be bookmarked and cross referenced to.

Hi, ¿how are you?

This tip says "...line numbers are considered temporary or transitory in Word. In other words, as you add text to a document, then the line numbers will change as the text is reflowed in your document...". So, ¿what's the difference with page numbers? Page numbers changes too, when editing the content of documents; in fact, TOC updates automatically when page numbers changes.

Considering exposed reasons, It isn't so clear why user can able insert references to page numbers, but not with line numbers.

¿Any new ideas?

Greetings...