• On the Insert menu, point to Reference, and then click Cross-reference.

Microsoft Word inserts cross-references as fields (field: A set of codes that instructs Microsoft Word to insert text, graphics, page numbers, and other material into a document automatically. For example, the DATE field inserts the current date.). If your cross-reference looks similar to {REF _Ref249586 \* MERGEFORMAT}, Word is displaying field codes (field code: Placeholder text that shows where specified information from your data source will appear; the elements in a field that generate a field's result. The field code includes the field characters, field type, and instructions.) instead of field results (field results: Text or graphics inserted in a document when Microsoft Word carries out a field's instructions. When you print the document or hide field codes, the field results replace the field codes.). To see the field results, right-click the field code, and then click Toggle Field Codes on the shortcut menu (shortcut menu: A menu that shows a list of commands relevant to a particular item. To display a shortcut menu, right-click an item or press SHIFT+F10.). (If you want to see the results for every field in the document, select the entire document before you right-click a field code.)

You'll see this message when the information the cross-reference refers to has been deleted from a document. The message may also occur when information the cross-reference refers to has been edited. For example, if the text in a heading referred to in a cross-reference is revised, the cross-reference to the heading may no longer work.

The Cross-reference dialog box displays only headings that are formatted with a built-in heading style (heading style: Formatting applied to a heading. Microsoft Word has nine different built-in styles: Heading 1 through Heading 9.). To apply a built-in heading style to a heading, click in the heading, and then click one of the built-in heading styles in the Style box on the Formatting toolbar (toolbar: A bar with buttons and options that you use to carry out commands. To display a toolbar, press ALT and then SHIFT+F10.).

Microsoft Word inserts cross-references as fields (field: A set of codes that instructs Microsoft Word to insert text, graphics, page numbers, and other material into a document automatically. For example, the DATE field inserts the current date.). If an item you referred to in a cross-reference isn't correct, you need to manually update the cross-reference fields by selecting a specific cross-reference or the entire document and then pressing F9.