Text figures in latex figures, tables and references

Question

I'm searching for a way to enforce text figures in LaTeX tables, figures, and the references (and cross-referencing) to tables and figures.

For instance, the table number should be written with text figure format.

Please let me know if something is not clear. Any idea would be helpful.

Answer 1

Here is a solution

\documentclass{article}

%---------------------
% just for the example
\usepackage{mwe}
\setcounter{figure}{18}
\setcounter{table}{68}
%---------------------

\renewcommand{\thefigure}{\oldstylenums{\arabic{figure}}}
\renewcommand{\thetable}{\oldstylenums{\arabic{table}}}

\begin{document}
\listoffigures
\listoftables

my nice figure \ref{nf} and  my table \ref{nt}\lipsum[1]
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[scale=.45]{example-image}
\caption{Nice  figure}
\label{nf}
\end{figure}
\begin{table}
\caption{Nice table}\label{nt}
\centering
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|}
\hline 
a & 1 \\ 
\hline 
b & 2 \\ 
\hline 
\end{tabular} 
\end{table}
\end{document}

Update if chapters used

\renewcommand{\thefigure}{%
\ifnum\value{chapter}>0 \oldstylenums{\arabic{chapter}}.\fi
\oldstylenums{\arabic{figure}}}
\renewcommand{\thetable}{%
\ifnum\value{chapter}>0 \oldstylenums{\arabic{chapter}}.\fi\oldstylenums{\arabic{table}}}