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Subject:Re: Hogs = Long docs in MS Word From:"Peter Ring, PRC" <prc -at- PRC -dot- DK> Date:Thu, 5 Nov 1998 10:33:35 +1
Claudine M Jalajas wrote:
> Regarding the very long documents in word (which I have to use since
> electronic copies are also required for my clients) what does the group prefer
> to do:
> 1. use Master Doc (say it ain't so)
> 2. use many documents seperated by chapter
> Also, how do you handle screen shots. I find it's easier to use
> bmps in Word files, but they can get large. How can I get screen
> shots, keep the size to a minimum, and have it look good when
> printed?
I agree: avoid Master Doc by all means! It's not a feature, it's a
genious mixture of a large bunch of unsolved old bugs! I've never
understood why Microsoft deliberately gave away a big market share
(not all but a lot) to FramMaker in order to stubbornly keep these
bugs alive!
To my experience the main problem with long documents in MS Word is
lack of RAM. It looks like as soon as Word needs to use the Windows
swapfile, problems starts. (Another beautifully designed MS bug!)
To my experience, the solution - if you want to stay in Word - is
- untick "Fast saves" (Functions/Settings menu, Save tabsheet).
- use linked graphics, which are not embedded in the Word document.
When inserting the image, tag "Link to file", and then untag "Save
image with document".
If you want to split the document in individual files by chapter,
there are several options. One I have used is making a macro, which
is saved with the front page & TOC document, inserting all the other
documents and then finally making the TOC. In this way, you can also
handle creating the document specificically to an individual customer.
Save your screenshots e.g. as compressed TIF's, that reduces their
size significantly, and MS Word can use them directly. but you might
need to experiment with the selection of the compression scheme to
make it work.
Greetings from Denmark
Peter Ring
PRC (Peter Ring Consultants)
- specialists in user friendly manuals.
prc -at- prc -dot- dk
- the "User Friendly Manuals" website with links, bibliography, list
of prof. associations, and tips for technical writers: http://www.prc.dk/user-friendly-manuals/
- text cleaning software, e.g. for reading difficult e-mails: http://www.prc.dk/software/
