Convert footnotes to superscripts

Y

ym

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I need to convert the footnote superscripts in a large Word document into unlinked superscript numbers. Is there a way to do this other than by re-typing each number as a superscript? Thanks!
 
J

John McGhie

Not without VBA, no.

If you have access to a copy of Word 2004 that does VBA then you can write a
Macro that does it.

But Macropod's question is pertinent: what are you going to do with the
footnotes themselves when you do that? Because the footnotes are actually
stored in the number (or at least Word treats them as if they were...)

In VBA you would have to retrieve both the number and the footnote text,
insert the number as text, then work out where to put the text.

The code is simpler to write if you don't mind "losing" the footnote text
(because you have converted them to Endnotes).

Cheers


Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I need to convert the footnote superscripts in a large Word document into
unlinked superscript numbers. Is there a way to do this other than by
re-typing each number as a superscript? Thanks!

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]
 
Y

ym

Thanks for the responses - I was planning to copy the text and keep it in a set of endnotes. Simply converting the footnotes to endnotes does not do the trick - I know how to do that.

Basically, I want to unlink the footnote (or endnote) number from the footnote (or endnote) text. This may seem random, but Oxford University Press requires that manuscripts be submitted this way (believe it or not). They actually suggest making the footnotes with superscripts. I can't imagine doing that as I write, but apparently I will have to do the conversion. I will also check in with them, because it seems that all authors have to do this.
 
J

John McGhie

OK, so you may like to ask OUP if they have a utility that does this
automatically for you.

Because in Word, the Footnote Reference Number IS the footnote. If you
"Unlink it" you delete the footnote object completely: both the number and
the text go away.

As I said, you can make a VBA routine to do this, but you need to find a
copy of Word that will run VBA.

A quicker method might be this:

1) Convert the footnotes to endnotes and save.

2) Save a copy of the document as Text Only

3) Open the Text Only version of the document.

4) Save it as a Word document.

5) Re-apply your formatting styles.

That will accomplish the effect, and will be a lot quicker than other
methods.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the responses - I was planning to copy the text and keep it in a
set of endnotes. Simply converting the footnotes to endnotes does not do the
trick - I know how to do that.

Basically, I want to unlink the footnote (or endnote) number from the footnote
(or endnote) text. This may seem random, but Oxford University Press requires
that manuscripts be submitted this way (believe it or not). They actually
suggest making the footnotes with superscripts. I can't imagine doing that as
I write, but apparently I will have to do the conversion. I will also check in
with them, because it seems that all authors have to do this.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]
 
Y

ym

Thanks, that works, though of course it is a task to re-apply all the formatting (including unusual fonts that I use occasionally). Nothing on this from OUP, other than that their production team often ends up doing it - how, I don't know. Would be nice if a new version of Word had a function to do it, I imagine the publishers would appreciate it.

I appreciate the replies.
-ym
 
C

Clive Huggan

Thanks, that works, though of course it is a task to re-apply all the
formatting (including unusual fonts that I use occasionally). Nothing on this
from OUP, other than that their production team often ends up doing it - how,
I don't know. Would be nice if a new version of Word had a function to do it,
I imagine the publishers would appreciate it.

I appreciate the replies.
-ym

I hope you would be doing the formatting using styles. It's so much quicker
and easier to re-format the document than with manual re-formatting.

Take a look at pages 132-133 of some notes on the way I use Word for the
Mac, titled "Bend Word to Your Will", which are available as a free download
from the Word MVPs' website
(http://word.mvps.org/Mac/Bend/BendWordToYourWill.html).

[Note: "Bend Word to your will" is designed to be used electronically and
most subjects are self-contained dictionary-style entries. If you decide to
read more widely than the item I've referred to, it's important to read the
front end of the document -- especially pages 3 and 5 -- so you can select
some Word settings that will allow you to use the document effectively.]

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from the Americas and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
====================================================
 
J

John McGhie

The next version of Mac Word will be able to do it.

I shall write a macro to automate the process, and sell it for squillions
:)

Cheers


Thanks, that works, though of course it is a task to re-apply all the
formatting (including unusual fonts that I use occasionally). Nothing on this
from OUP, other than that their production team often ends up doing it - how,
I don't know. Would be nice if a new version of Word had a function to do it,
I imagine the publishers would appreciate it.

I appreciate the replies.
-ym

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top