[xppuser]

hi shauna, suzanne,

thank you for your advices, they both worked!

shauna, your solution seemed simpler i just did Insert - Cross Reference,
for which i have chosen the option of Figure and display label and number
e.g. Figure 9, then i put a dash i.e. "-" then i did another Insert - Cross
Reference for Figure 12 (so now the text appeared as Figure 9 - Figure 12),
then with the shading on, i deleted the label "Figure" for Figure 12 so i
ended up with Figure 9 - 12 (where Figure 9 was naturally still shaded and
the number 12 remaining shaded). for the both figures, the hyperlink i.e.
Ctrl+click still functional.

suzanne, your solution (the one that i obtained from your site, provided by
your link) whilst did work, entailed some additional steps, the additional
purpose(s) of which i am not clear. would you be able to elaborate for me,
for my own education in this matter?

thank you both again,
jes