Designation of footnotes and footnote references

A method of, and system for, designating footnotes and footnote references based on, and beginning with, an operator defined initial designation. The initial designation can be made up of both a variable functional portion and an accompanying fixed aesthetic portion. The functional portion is for numbering and can be either a numeric or other graphic character. The fixed portion can be both cosmetic and functional and can be made up of a character or characters. The designation can be located either on-line or in an indexed position. When numeric characters are used in number designating footnotes and footnote references, there is an incrementing by one of the operator selected initial number for each succeeding footnote and footnote reference designated. When other graphic characters are used in number designating footnotes and footnote references, the number of graphic characters is increased by one for each succeeding footnote and footnote reference designated. The initial designation can be selected to include either any number or number of graphic characters for numbering @ graphic characters can be reset, on a section basis such as by document page or chapter, to those initially defined. Further, if there is to be an intermingling of numeric and other graphic characters for designating footnotes and footnote references, incrementing and increasing of the numeric and other graphic characters is from the corresponding numeric or other graphic character last used for designating a footnote and footnote reference.