About Internal References (XREF)

Use an Xref to reference sections or identified targets within the same document.  The reference can be by section number, section title, both number and title, or page number where the section begins.  To insert an Xref, right click at the location in the text there the reference needs to be added.  A window will open with options for Add Rule and Add Xref.  Click on Add Xref.

Note: Note that this is a new feature and Expere content uses the Document Reference tag for internal and external content.


The Xref now appears in the content as Xref – Unlinked. 

  1. To point to the section to reference content, right click on the Xref element and choose Link. . .. The list of sections populates from the name provided when authoring the section (not the actual title, but the name that appears to the right of the section element). The name of the section will now appear in the Outline Editor view.
  2. Select the “style” for the reference. These options appear when right-click on the Xref:
    • Title – Will replace the Xref with the actual Section Title element contents during publishing (not necessarily the same as the Section Name).  The word ‘section’ will not be added so it should be authored in the content if needed. 
    • Number – Will replace the Xref with the Section number during publishing.
    • Number and Title – Will replace the Xref with both the section number and the title during publishing.
    • Section Page Number – Will replace the Xref with the page number that the linked Section Name appears on.  For example:  The Property Description appears on page ##.
    • Last Page Number – Will replace the Xref with the page number of the last page.  No Link is necessary for this option.
    • Current Page Number – Will replace the Xref with the current page number.  No Link is necessary for this option.
    • Delete Xref – will remove the Xref element from the content.
  1. Use an XrefTarget to reference content at a more specific place within a section (for example one sentence or a data item). 
  2. To create an XrefTarget: select the text and right click; select Wrap in ‘XrefTarget’ Tag from the list. The XrefTargetName prompt appears; enter an XrefTarget Name.


  3. Click OK; the Xref now appears in the Editor and will also be available in the Link. . . list described above for a standard Xref.  This option is typically used if you need to ensure that the page number that is produced by the Xref is the actual page where that content appears.