A master document as a subdocument?

[Dazed&Confused]

Can a master document be a subdocument in another master document?

 

[Jay Freedman]

Can a master document be a subdocument in another master document?

The mind boggles... Even if you manage to use a master document as intended
without mishap
(http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/General/WhyMasterDocsCorrupt.htm), trying to
compound the folly will certainly get you into trouble.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
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[Jay Freedman]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?RGF6ZWQmQ29uZnVzZWQ=?=,

I agree with Jay's assessment , but can you explain WHY you'd
want to do this?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 17
2005)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

If the master document feature worked reliably, I could understand wanting to
build up a document layer by layer. Unfortunately, the proposition fails on the
false premise.

I have no idea whether it's technically feasible -- that is, whether the
sub-to-master linkages at one level would be maintained to the next higher
level. I suspect that behavior was never part of Microsoft's design. The only
way to find out would be to try it; but be prepared to find that either Word
refuses to accept a master as a sub, or that the whole thing crashes. Keep
multiple backups of everything!

 

[Dazed&Confused]

Cinday & Jay,

Thank you for your responses. I have been trying this with a "test" document
in its own folder and nothing more that outline subdocs. It seems to work. I
appreciate that it is probably not recommended.

What I am trying to do is to pull together a HUGE document from a number of
other authors. It is a technical specification that may wind up being
1000-2000 pages when complete. It will have embedded objects such as Visio
docs, Excel worksheets and other illustrative pictures.

What I would like to do is manage the Master document while having all the
others manage their own subdocuments. I understand that hese will all need to
be in the same directory - is that correct?

Up til now I have beena pretty basic user of MS Wod. This project has me
delving into the more advanced features of Word and Office.

I will lookup the "Insert ext" fielyou mentioned.

Thanks again!

 

[Peter A]

Cinday & Jay,

Thank you for your responses. I have been trying this with a "test" document
in its own folder and nothing more that outline subdocs. It seems to work. I
appreciate that it is probably not recommended.

What I am trying to do is to pull together a HUGE document from a number of
other authors. It is a technical specification that may wind up being
1000-2000 pages when complete. It will have embedded objects such as Visio
docs, Excel worksheets and other illustrative pictures.

What I would like to do is manage the Master document while having all the
others manage their own subdocuments. I understand that hese will all need to
be in the same directory - is that correct?

Up til now I have beena pretty basic user of MS Wod. This project has me
delving into the more advanced features of Word and Office.

I will lookup the "Insert ext" fielyou mentioned.

Thanks again!

I realize that you may not have an alternative, but you are really
asking for trouble using Word for this kind of project. A 1000+ page
document is bad enough, but when you use the master document feature and
include a bunch of embedded objects, it is like smoking in the dynamite
storage room. Good luck to you!

 

[Jay Freedman]

If you continue on the master document path, you'll probably have need of
these articles:

http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/General/RecoverMasterDocs.htm
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/General/WhyMasterDocsCorrupt.htm
http://www.techwr-l.com/articles/general/masterdocs

If you want to investigate what Cindy suggested, pay close attention to the
names -- it is NOT "Insert text", it's the IncludeText field (and its
cousin, the IncludePicture field). These are discussed in the Help.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Dazed&Confused]

Thanks all. I have implemented the IncludeText "solution" and everything is
working out beautifully so far!