Editing Footnote Number Formats

By default, a decimal number (e.g., 1, 2, 3) is used when you insert a footnote. However, you can select a different format. For example, you can change the format to uppercase alpha (e.g., A, B, C) or lowercase Roman (e.g., i, ii, iii). You can also replace the number with a symbol, such as an asterisk. This can be done through styles or by using local formatting. Using styles is usually recommended because the setting is automatically applied to any content using that style throughout the project, whereas local formatting affects only the particular content that you are working on. However, if you want to replace numbers with symbols, you probably want to use the local formatting method; there is no way to specify more than one kind of symbol on a page by using a style.

How to Use a Style to Edit a Footnote Number Format

  1. From the Content Explorer, open the stylesheet that you want to modify.

  2. Complete one of the following sets of steps, depending on whether you want to use the Simplified view or Advanced view in the Stylesheet Editor.

    • Simplified The Simplified view displays styles in a grid view and is often best for brand new users.

      This view provides an easy way to apply properties to styles, with format options available from a toolbar and dialogs (similar to the way one would use an interface such as Microsoft Word). In some cases, only the most common property options are available in the Simplified view (e.g., font, letter/word spacing, paragraph alignment/indentation, autonumbering format, borders, background). One advantage of the Simplified view is that you can apply a property to multiple styles at the same time. You can also click a check box to hide the properties in the editor, allowing you to see only the styles.

    • Advanced The Advanced view displays styles in a tree structure, and despite the name, is user friendly for authors of all levels.

      For the properties, you can toggle between a grouped display and an alphabetical display. The Advanced view of the Stylesheet Editor lets you edit more settings than are available in the Simplified view. In addition, the Advanced view lets you see and apply settings to multiple mediums and media queries at the same time.

    Warning Mediums can be used if you want to use one group of settings for online output types and another group of settings for print-based output types. For example, you might use the default medium for your online outputs and the print medium for your print outputs.  From the Medium drop-down in the Stylesheet Editor, make sure the proper medium is selected before you begin. In the Advanced view, you can open multiple mediums at once; you just need to look at the title at the top of the medium pane and make sure you are working in the correct one. If you are not using stylesheet mediums for your different outputs or if you want all mediums to have the same settings, just leave the medium set to default and continue. Please note that Flare remembers the last medium that you used when working in the stylesheet, so it may or may not be the one that you want to use the next time around. See Mediums and Media Queries.

    One benefit of using the Simplified view is that you can set one format for the number that displays in the text and a different format for the number that displays next to the footnote comment. With the Advanced view, you can set only one format for both numbers.

    If Using Simplified View

    1. In the local toolbar, make sure the first button displays The button to change the stylesheet to the simplified view. (which means that the Simplified view is currently shown in the editor). If the button displays The button to change the stylesheet to the advanced view. instead, then click it.
    2. In the upper-left corner of the editor, click in the drop-down field and select .
    3. Select the appropriate footnote style. If you used the default style when inserting the footnotes, then select MadCap|footnote. Otherwise, if you have used a class of that style (e.g., MadCap|footnote.BeginnersManual) that you created previously, then select it instead.
    4. In the local toolbar of the editor, click Display properties for the selected item.. The Properties dialog opens.
    5. Select the Footnote tab.
    6. Use the Format field to select the format for the footnote number that is displayed in the text. If you want to use a different format for the number displayed next to the footnote comment, you can use the Format for number in comment field. If you complete only the "Format" field, your setting will be used for both footnote numbers in the content.
      • {n} This is the default format, which displays decimal numbering (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4).
      • {r} This displays lowercase Roman numerals (e.g., i, ii, iii, iv).
      • {R} This displays uppercase Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III, IV).
      • {a} This displays lowercase alpha numerals (e.g., a, b, c, d).
      • {A} This displays uppercase alpha numerals (e.g., A, B, C, D).
      • If you want to use a symbol such as an asterisk, instead of a number, simply type it in the field.

      You can add extra characters, punctuation, formatting tags, and spacing around the number format to enhance it. Additional formats are available from the drop-down list for this reason.

      Example You want to see an extra space between the footnote number and the comment text that follows. If so, simply type a space after the format that you provide.

      Let's say you want to see decimal numbers, followed by a period and then a closing parentheses. If so, simply type this:

      {n}.)

      Let's say you want to see lowercase Roman numerals in bold. If so, simply type this:

      {b}{r}{/b}

    7. In the Properties dialog, click OK.

    If Using Advanced View

    1. In the local toolbar, make sure the first button displays The button to change the stylesheet to the advanced view.. If the button displays The button to change the stylesheet to the simplified view. instead, then click it.
    2. In the upper-left corner of the editor, click in the drop-down field and select .
    3. On the left side of the editor, select the appropriate footnote style. If you used the default style when inserting the footnotes, select MadCap|footnote. Otherwise, if you have used a class of that style (e.g., MadCap|footnote.BeginnersManual) that you created previously, then select it instead.
    4. From the Show drop-down list on the upper-right side of the editor, select Show drop-down set to display all properties in styles..
    5. (Optional) You can use the toggle button in the local toolbar to show properties below in a group view Stylesheet local toolbar button to show properties in a group view. or an alphabetical view Stylesheet local toolbar button to show properties in an alphabetical view..
    6. If you are using the grouped view, expand the Unclassified group.

    7. To the right of mc-footnote-format, click Display more options., and enter the format command(s) that you want to use. The commands available are similar to those used for autonumber formats.

      • {n} This is the default format, which displays decimal numbering (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4).
      • {r} This displays lowercase Roman numerals (e.g., i, ii, iii, iv).
      • {R} This displays uppercase Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III, IV).
      • {a} This displays lowercase alpha numerals (e.g., a, b, c, d).
      • {A} This displays uppercase alpha numerals (e.g., A, B, C, D).
      • If you want to use a symbol such as an asterisk, instead of a number, simply type it in the field.

      You can add extra characters, punctuation, formatting tags, and spacing around the number format to enhance it. Additional formats are available from the drop-down list for this reason.

      Example You want to see an extra space between the footnote number and the comment text that follows. If so, simply type a space after the format that you provide.

      Let's say you want to see decimal numbers, followed by a period and then a closing parentheses. If so, simply type this:

      {n}.)

      Let's say you want to see lowercase Roman numerals in bold. If so, simply type this:

      {b}{r}{/b}

      Note You can also edit the number format for footnote comments by using the mc-footnote-comment-format property. You can use the same commands to set this property as those for the mc-footnote-format property.

  3. Click Save the active file. to save your work.

How to Use Local Formatting to Edit a Footnote Number Format

  1. Open the content file.
  2. Make sure markers are turned on. To turn markers on, click the down arrow next to the Show tags button in the XML Editor. Then select Show Markers.
  3. Right-click on the footnote marker icon where it is inserted in the topic, and from the menu select Footnote Properties. The Footnote Properties dialog opens. See Footnote Properties Dialog.
  4. Select the Footnote tab.

  5. Use the Format field to select the format for the footnote number that is displayed in the text. If you want to use a different format for the number displayed next to the footnote comment, you can use the Format for number in comment field. If you complete only the "Format" field, your setting will be used for both footnote numbers in the content.

    • {n} This is the default format, which displays decimal numbering (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4).
    • {r} This displays lowercase Roman numerals (e.g., i, ii, iii, iv).
    • {R} This displays uppercase Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III, IV).
    • {a} This displays lowercase alpha numerals (e.g., a, b, c, d).
    • {A} This displays uppercase alpha numerals (e.g., A, B, C, D).
    • If you want to use a symbol such as an asterisk, instead of a number, simply type it in the field.

    You can add extra characters, punctuation, formatting tags, and spacing around the number format to enhance it. Additional formats are available from the drop-down list for this reason.

    Example You want to see an extra space between the footnote number and the comment text that follows. If so, simply type a space after the format that you provide.

    Let's say you want to see decimal numbers, followed by a period and then a closing parentheses. If so, simply type this:

    {n}.)

    Let's say you want to see lowercase Roman numerals in bold. If so, simply type this:

    {b}{r}{/b}

  6. In the Properties dialog, click OK.
  7. Click Save the active file. to save your work.