How do I generate a numbered paragraph Word Cross Reference field in VB?

Hi There,

Does anyone know how the 9 digit unique number used in a Microsoft Word 2003 SP3 cross reference field for a numbered paragraph is derived or calculated, and what VB function I can use to extract or create it?

I use a macro (see below) that creates and inserts a cross reference field. The aim is to quickly create a cross reference from a button rather than go through the tedious "insert>reference>cross reference and select" menus.

The macro tags the reference with a letter "b" followed by an 8 digit random number (eg toggle field codes shows "{ REF b70554752 \n \h }.

The behaviour of this method of cross referencing works well most of the time, but has a couple of annoying flaws.  

Firstly, the small risk that a cross reference may be given the same number (ie the random number generator kicscks out the same number twice in a document!). Not really concerned about this as it is very unlikely to occur.

Secondly, and by far the biggest problem, is where a cross reference is created to a numbered paragraph, and the numbered paragraph is subsequently deleted. Instead of the cross reference going to "Error! - Reference Not Found" (as a 'manually inserted' cross reference does), it updates to a different, usually nearby, numbered paragraph.

On comparing the format of a 'manually inserted' cross reference field with my macro generated field, it appears that the "Microsoft" cross reference uses a 9 digit number that is somehow created uniquely based on the paragraph (for example "{ REF _Ref274201605 \n \h }"). This means that if the paragraph referred to is deleted, the reference is no longer valid and the bookmark (correctly) errors ever time.

Does anyone know how the 9 digit unique number used in a Microsoft Word 2003 SP3 cross reference field for a numbered paragraph is derived or calculated, and what VB function I can use to extract or create it?

Many thanks in advance!

Cheers

...Steve

For reference, the current macro is as follows:

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Sub Add_crossRef_to_selected_para()

Dim n As Long

Dim myBookmark As String

n = Int(Rnd() * 100000000) + 1

With ActiveDocument.Bookmarks

.Add Range:=Selection.Range, Name:="b" & n

.DefaultSorting = wdSortByLocation

.ShowHidden = True

End With

Selection.InsertCrossReference ReferenceType:="Bookmark", ReferenceKind:= _

wdNumberNoContext, ReferenceItem:="b" & n, InsertAsHyperlink:=True, _

IncludePosition:=False

End Sub

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