Basic 2 page word file 20.5mb

[Nathan Evans]

I have a problem with word files from Word 2007. They maybe only 30 - 40KB
but when I save them having only changed a few words the file is suddenly
20.5mb.

Word also hangs for ages when I open the file and it takes a while to scroll
through.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Nathan -

It's not so much a matter of how many pages as it is a matter of what's on
those pages & how the file has been handled There's also no information
in your message that indicates what version of Word you're using or whether
the file was saved as a .doc, .docx, .rtf... Just because it was produced
using Word 2007 doesn't dictate the file format. Without any of this
information the folks here are as much in the dark as you

In general, the symptoms you vaguely describe are indicative of either a
corrupt file or one or more corrupt objects (table, image, etc.) in the
file. Tell us more & perhaps someone can tell you more.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 4/27/08 2:13 PM, in article
(e-mail address removed), "Nathan Evans" <Nathan

 

[Nathan Evans]

Thanks Bob, the pages have a simple table of 3 cells accross ad 3 cells down
there is also a header and footer to the document. The file is a .doc and
being saved in the same format. I am using word 2008 with all the latest
updates.

The document has been created on a PC and has been sent to me on a USB stick
for reviewing. If i make any changes the document changes from 124k to
20.5mb this is the same for 7 seperate documents all based on the same
template

Many thanks

Nathan Evans

 

[CyberTaz]

Well, I'm not sure what to tell you. I've not seen anything like that in any
of the numerous 2007 doc's & docx's I've had to deal with except in a few
cases where corruption was the issue... Usually with a graphic at fault.

If you're opening the files directly from the USB, try copying to your HD
first & see if that might make any difference.

You might also try copying all but the last ¶ (most simply: Command+A,
Shift+Left Arrow, then Copy), paste to a new blank doc & see how that sizes
up. [The Headers/Footers won't be included.] See what size that renders. Do
the H/F contain any graphic elements? If the resulting file is a normal size
it would suggest the graphic to be the cause of the bloat.

Another test: Delete the table, also delete the ¶ that follows the table.
Save As & see what the resulting file size is.

Not that it helps you:-( but I just created a new file in 2007 with a table
& H/F - all using the Quick Parts to try to force the issue - then brought
it over to Word 2008, made some changes & saved. The 2007 file started as
31K & even after changes the copy saved by 2008 was only 36K.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Nathan:

"File Bloat on platform change" is a common problem in Word. It is caused
either by pictures or tracked changes.

To find out which, make a copy of the document, display the Reviewing
toolbar, and "Accept all changes in document". Save it.

If it suddenly shrinks, it was unresolved tracked changes. These remain in
the document until the author resolves them by accepting or rejecting them.

If it says no tracked changes or comments were found, it wasn't that

So now you need to go looking for pictures in the document. I suspect you
will find that there is a logo or other picture in the header or footer of
the document. It may have been re-sized by dragging. This alters the
displayed size of the picture but leaves the original image file embedded in
the document at its original size.

If the logo was a WMF or an EMF (Windows metafiles, Word might convert them
to high-res bitmaps. If it does, they will explode in size. When that
happens, Word keeps both versions in the file and you get this astonishing
file bloat. A single full-page colour graphic is about 20 MB!

Search the text and the headers and footers for "pictures" and delete them.
Then save the document. If the file suddenly shrinks, you've found it.

Hope this helps

Thanks Bob, the pages have a simple table of 3 cells accross ad 3 cells down
there is also a header and footer to the document. The file is a .doc and
being saved in the same format. I am using word 2008 with all the latest
updates.

The document has been created on a PC and has been sent to me on a USB stick
for reviewing. If i make any changes the document changes from 124k to
20.5mb this is the same for 7 seperate documents all based on the same
template

Many thanks

Nathan Evans

--

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Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia. mailto:[email protected]