My Word documents are suddenly too big.

[Guest]

My Word 2002 docs and templates have suddenly grown in size from an average
of 20 K to 4 megs or over. My computer is virus and spyware free. I do not
have the "fast save" feature turned on. I must get this solved quickly
because I telecommute and must send many documents every day.
Thank you...

 

[Margaret Aldis]

Since Suzanne Barnhill is away at the moment I will repost her collected
list of causes of huge file sizes. Sounds like you can discount 1, but if
this is happening across all documents look first for one of the other
changes in Save options or formats.
1. Fast Saves: Disable this at on the Save tab of Tools | Options.


2. Preview Picture: Clear the check box on the Summary tab of File |
Properties.


3. Versions (File | Versions): Make sure "Automatically save version on
close" is not turned on.


4. Revisions (Tools | Track Changes):
Highlight Changes: Make sure "Highlight changes on screen" is turned on
(or that "Final Showing Markup" is displayed).
Accept/Reject Changes: If "Accept All" or "Reject All" is available then
revisions are present; accept or reject all changes, then turn Track Changes
off.


5. Embedded True Type fonts (Tools | Options | Save); embedding fonts should
be avoided wherever possible.


6. Embedded graphics: When feasible, it is preferable to link the graphics.
That is, when you insert the graphic, click the arrow beside Insert in the
Picture dialog and choose Link to File rather than Insert or Insert and
Link.


7. Embedded objects: These are even worse than ordinary graphics saved with
the document. If you see an { EMBED } code, the graphic is an OLE object.
Unless you need to be able to edit the object in place, unlink it using
Ctrl+Shift+F9.


8. File format: Make sure you are saving as a Word document; in some cases
..rtf (Rich Text Format) files are significantly larger than .doc files.


9. Document corruption: See
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/­AppErrors/CorruptDoc.htm.