Section crossrefs working with docx but not pdf

[paul-kelleher]

Despite not having this problem a week or so ago, I've just noticed that pandoc-crossref for some reason is not working when I use pandoc to convert markdown to pdf. But it is working fine when I use pandoc to convert the same markdown to docx.

MWE:

> # Section I {#sec:1}
> 
> A reference to [@sec:1]. A reference to @johansson1991.
> 
> # References

This gives the following for docx using "pandoc test.md --filter pandoc-crossref --citeproc --bibliography=bibliography.bib -o output.docx":

But gives this for pdf using "pandoc test.md --filter pandoc-crossref --citeproc --bibliography=bibliography.bib -o output.pdf":

Like I said, this wasn't happening a week or so ago. I've tried using all the versions of pandoc-crossref I've used in that time period, and none work. I know this is bizarre. Any idea what might be going on? Thanks so much, and sorry if I'm doing something wrong!

[paul-kelleher]

I discovered the problem (or at least how to work around it). I can convert md to pdf with perfect section crossrefs if my YAML includes "numbersections: true" with "numbersections" written without camel case. But in order to convert md to docx without receiving an error when opening up the docx, I must write "numberSections" using camel case.

The reason I didn't have a problem a few weeks ago is that this Youtube video (which should start at 3m54s) warned me that the Pandoc-crossref documentation seemed to be mistaken in calling for camel case. I think what I've discovered is that, for some reason, camel case is required for docx, but must be avoided for pdf.

[lierdakil]

That YouTube video is wrong... numbersections works with LaTeX output due to a chain of coincidences. What you're supposed to use is --number-sections command-line switch. Pandoc-crossref uses numberSections, but LaTeX is special in that numbering is offloaded to LaTeX, so pandoc-crossref's numberSections doesn't affect LaTeX output.

[paul-kelleher]

Ah, Ok. So if I'm following, you're saying: Whether you're moving from md to pdf or md to docx, you should use the --number-sections command-line switch.

I just tried that (after removing any reference to numbering sections from my YAML header), and it worked for both pdf and docx output. Thanks!

[lierdakil]

Whether you're moving from md to pdf or md to docx, you should use the --number-sections command-line switch.

With LaTeX, you have to use --number-sections. With docx, you have an option of numbering sections with pandoc-crossref (via numberSections metadata option) instead of --number-sections. That said, pandoc-crossref's numberSections option was introduced primarily for output formats where --number-sections doesn't work or when you need to do something non-standard (which is relatively straightforward with LaTeX via header-includes, but not necessarily so with other formats)

[paul-kelleher]

Thank you!