Dynamic endnotes (CS4 and later)
Two scripts here. The first script, end_to_end.jsx, converts static endnotes to dynamic endnotes (MS Word's dynamic endnotes are placed in Indesign as static endnotes). The second one, foot_to_end.jsx, converts footnotes in an InDesign document to endnotes.
Both scripts implement a method outlined by Peter Gold (in InDesign's User-to-user forum) and described in detail by Bob Bringhurst (see his blog; see also IndesignSecrets.com). Apparently it's an old FrameMaker trick. The method is simple: create a paragraph style for the endnotes and enable numbering in it; create a character style that sets the format for the note references; and add a cross-reference format that defines just a paragraph's number. Then at the location of the note reference, create a cross-reference to the endnote.
The method outlined by Peter Gold is simple and elegant, but labour-intensive if you want to convert all footnotes in a document to dynamic endnotes, or when you've placed in InDesign an MS Word document that contains a lot of endnotes which you want to convert to dynamic endnotes. The scripts make this task easy.
Note that this cross-reference trick can be used to overcome other shortcomings of InDesign, namely, its inability to add notes to tables and its lack of support for sidenotes. Table notes can be handled in the same way as outlined on this page. Dynamic sidenotes, though they use in effect the same approach, require a different way a scripting. These scripts are illustrated here.
Imported (static) endnotes to dynamic endnotes
MS Words has dynamic footnotes and dynamic endnotes; InDesign has just dynamic footnotes. When you place a Word document with endnotes in InDesign, Word's dynamic endnotes are therefore converted to static endnotes. This means that if you add or remove notes, you have to change note numbers and references manually.
The first script described here converts the static endnotes to dynamic ones, so that footnote references can be updated automatically after adding and deleting footnotes.
Use
Before you run the script, make sure that the endnote paragraph style has been applied to all endnotes. Then run the script.
The script shows a dialog with two dropdowns, one with the character styles defined in the active document, the other with the document's paragraph styles. If the script finds the MS Word style names Endnote text (a paragraph style) and Endnote Reference (a character style) in the document, these names (or a localised version) are preselected in the dialog:
Just press Enter/Return or click OK to start the script. If the script can't find any standard name, select the style names used in the document for the endnote text and the references.
Some details
The script converts static endnotes to dynamic endnotes by applying the method outlined by Peter Gold, mentioned earlier. It works as follows:
- It removes phantom note references. In placed Word documents you often find the character style for note references applied to white space. These must be removed, otherwise the script gets confused.
- It checks that there are as many endnote references as there are endnotes. If the check fails, the script will tell you how many references and how many notes it sees.
- It adds a paragraph style Endnote Text_numbered, based on the Endnote Text style, and adds paragraph numbering. It applies this style to each paragraph that has the paragraph style Endnote Text applied to it and that starts with a number. This is to handle notes consisting of more than one paragraph.
- The script adds a cross-reference format endnote.
- It creates cross-references by linking the endnote references and the endnotes.
- Finally, it removes the original, imported, note numbers.
Click to show script -- to download, right click, then Save Link/Target As
Convert footnotes to endnotes
The script converts InDesign footnotes to endnotes. It adds some rudimentary styles to the document: a paragraph style for the endnotes, a character style for the note references, and a cross-reference format -- you need to fine tune them later. The styles are called endnote___ by default; if you want to change that you need to change that in the script at line 7.
Use
Open the document that contains the notes you want to convert, then run the script. It has no interface.
Click to show script -- to download, right click, then Save Link/Target As
Installing and running scripts
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