Master docs

[Paula Dawn]

Is there a replacement for the Master Documents? I have heard that they
corrupt your documents.
Some other application you can use or a add-in?
Thanks

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Best replacement is to put everything in one file. Word can handle documents
as long as 10,000 pages.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word

 

[Margaret Aldis]

Hi Paula

Either paste the content of the documents into a single file, or, if for
document management reasons you want to maintain separate editable files,
then use INCLUDETEXT fields.

Note that the INCLUDETEXT solution won't let you maintain cross references
across the files, and although there is a mechanism for editing the text in
place and updating the source file I personally wouldn't go there without
some serious testing.

 

[Bernard Watkins]

A 10,000 page word doc takes some time to load and the editing of such a doc
is very very time consuming and tiresome. You could make more errors than
the ones you correct.

Bernard Watkins,
Techwriter

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Very few users create 10,000-word documents, either.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

Hi Paula,

As far as alternatives go, if joining the files is not suitable, I believe
(gleaned from the NGs) that the RD field will allow you to construct a TOC
across files, and keep page numbering sequential. If joining long files,
Outline View is very helpful in managing hundreds of pages. Section breaks
will let you replicate a lot of the features that come automatically with
separate files (e.g. restarting notes, etc).

Charles Kenyon (Word MVP) writes:
"See <URL: http://www.addbalance.com/word/masterdocuments.htm> for
information on the Master Document feature and workarounds. (This page also
has a link to Steve Hudson's chapter on how he gets Master Documents to
work.)"

There is definitely a third party add-in which has been mentioned by a
number of people, called Tech-Tav, the site above has a link to it. Most
people don't seem to find it necessary, I have been formatting a 400+ page
thesis with several chapters in one file without problems.

Both Master Documents and the workarounds depend on proper use of templates,
styles, and headings. The time spent learning these methods will be very
rewarding, if you are not already familiar with them. Here are some other
links on styles and templates, which will probably lead you to other useful
articles, and at the end two articles that go into detail on the problems
with Master Documents, if you've only heard rumors.

http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/styles/TipsOnStyles.html

http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Formatting/UsingOLView.htm

http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/legal/Styles.asp and a supplemented
version of the same article, http://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/index.htm

http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Customization/CreateATemplatePart1.htm

http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Formatting/WorkWithSections.htm

http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Customization/CreateATemplatePart2.htm

Why Master Documents corrupt
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/WhyMasterDocsCorrupt.htm

How to recover a Master Document
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/RecoverMasterDocs.htm

DM