Large Documents

[Guest]

I create and update large documents used as training manuals for our Call
Center. Is it best to do this in Word, or would another microsoft product be
better?

 

[Guest]

Hello-

Since you stipulate "microsoft product", Word is the only solution, as you
most likely need such things as Table of Contents, Index,Cross-References,
Style, Sections, etc. Theoretically you could Import the Word content to
Publisher for layout work, adding graphics, etc., but probably not necessary
to do so.

IMHO, if you need that type of capability (and have the leeway to do so),
you might want to look into Page layout software, such as InDesign or
QuarkXpress.

HTH |:>)

 

[Guest]

thanks for the info. I don't have to use microsot products, but have them
available. I will look into the 2 other suggestions that you made. c newman

 

[Kathy]

We use Word to create about 20 'user manuals' (from 100 to 500 pages)
using subdocuments and master documents with full TOC and index. We
researched Quark and InDesign and felt Word could satisfy our
requirements. Word hasn't failed us yet -----

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Kathy. this is good to know.

 

[Graham Mayor]

I hope you keep lots of backups

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[Guest]

I assume that, when writing these long documents, you also have to edit them.
Let's say you've generated an index but then find you need to add a large
amount of new text. Is there a way that the index entries marked as "mark
all" will find the entries in the added portion of the document?

 

[Charles Kenyon]

I don't see Kathy's post on my system but this respons is to that post.

Sorry, I don't have an answer because I don't use Master Documents. However,
you may need the reason I don't more than you need an answer. "Master
Document" is a term of art in Word referring to a "feature" that not only
doesn't work but also destroys documents. The consensus (with the limited
exception of Steve Hudson) among those offering advice on these newsgroups
is that using the Master Document feature is a good way to destroy your
document. It can destroy parts of your document that you are not even
working on! I think John McGhie said it succinctly when he said that there
are two kinds of Master Documents: Those that are corrupt and those that
will be corrupt soon. See
http://www.addbalance.com/word/masterdocuments.htm for information on the
Master Document feature and workarounds. See
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/WhyMasterDocsCorrupt.htm for more
information on what goes wrong, and
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/RecoverMasterDocs.htm for ideas on how
to salvage what you can. See
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/magazine/technical/masterdocs.doc for
Steve Hudson's instructions if you are willing to follow them very
carefully.

--

Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide


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