What version of Word?

In Word 2003, insert your table numbers using Insert - Reference - Caption.

Then, for references to them, use Insert - Reference - Cross Reference.

This will ensure that table numbers and references to them remain linked.

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
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http://www.herbtyson.com
"Tim" wrote in message
...
I have a document with a lot of tables. For each table, I have references
which I would like to tie to the table number. The problem I have now is
that
if I add a new table then all the table numbers increment, but my
references
stay the same. Is there a way to tie them together so that they
increment/decrement together?

For example:

The message shall be set according to Table 3. (This is my reference in
the
text)
.....

Table 3: Message Content (This is my actual table.)