Starter Questions on Masters and Subs

[Guest]

Hi all,

I am currenlty trying to create my first Master document and I would like
some clarification on a few things.

1. Do all files, master and subs, have to be in the same folder? And can
that folder be on SharePoint? If they can be on SharePoint, do I have to
create the master by linking to SharePoint?

2. What is with the continuous section break after each document that is
inserted? Is there a way to get rid of that? And if you manage to do so,
when you go and edit the sub document, will it return to mess of the format
of your master again?

I realize these are basic questions and apprecaite a quick answer if
possible.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

You may want to reconsder using thus feature.

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

Steve Hudson [Word Heretic] on how to make Master Documents work safely:
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/magazine/technical/wordhomepage.html

 

[Guest]

Thanks but that didn't answer my question. I understand there are concerns
using masters and subs for most people. I am instructed to make them work,
so I am just wondering if anyone could answer my questions for me to give me
a little help.

As for the links, thanks...I will read them when I can. Just kind of on a
tight deadline and need help quickly.

thanks,
--
Harley

You may want to reconsder using thus feature.

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

Steve Hudson [Word Heretic] on how to make Master Documents work safely:
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/magazine/technical/wordhomepage.html

--
tj

Hi all,

I am currenlty trying to create my first Master document and I would like
some clarification on a few things.

1. Do all files, master and subs, have to be in the same folder? And can
that folder be on SharePoint? If they can be on SharePoint, do I have to
create the master by linking to SharePoint?

2. What is with the continuous section break after each document that is
inserted? Is there a way to get rid of that? And if you manage to do so,
when you go and edit the sub document, will it return to mess of the format
of your master again?

I realize these are basic questions and apprecaite a quick answer if
possible.

Thanks

 

[Charles Kenyon]

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

See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

 

[Charles Kenyon]

It is not just that _some_ people have difficulties with this feature, it is
that the feature is flawed and will destroy your documents unless handled
with much more care than is usual in an office environment.

Read Steve Hudson's material before doing anything else, regardless of your
deadline.
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/magazine/technical/masterdocs.doc
Otherwise you will be working on building a catastrophe!
--

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

See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

Thanks but that didn't answer my question. I understand there are
concerns
using masters and subs for most people. I am instructed to make them
work,
so I am just wondering if anyone could answer my questions for me to give
me
a little help.

As for the links, thanks...I will read them when I can. Just kind of on a
tight deadline and need help quickly.

thanks,
--
Harley

You may want to reconsder using thus feature.

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

Steve Hudson [Word Heretic] on how to make Master Documents work safely:
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/magazine/technical/wordhomepage.html

--
tj

Hi all,

I am currenlty trying to create my first Master document and I would
like
some clarification on a few things.

1. Do all files, master and subs, have to be in the same folder? And
can
that folder be on SharePoint? If they can be on SharePoint, do I have
to
create the master by linking to SharePoint?

2. What is with the continuous section break after each document that
is
inserted? Is there a way to get rid of that? And if you manage to do
so,
when you go and edit the sub document, will it return to mess of the
format
of your master again?

I realize these are basic questions and apprecaite a quick answer if
possible.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the responses even though they did not answer my question. All
your warnings will be taken into consideration. However, if you do not use
Master Documents, then are you simply taking the word of people who may not
be using them correctly? How can only one person know how to use them
correctly to the point of no corruption yet everyone else can't?

I am willing to at least give it a try and see what happens. If my document
gets corrupted, then it gets corrupted. If not, then I have a great document
to reference.

As for getting answers to my original questions, I guess I will have to
figure it out on my own.

 

[Charles Kenyon]

Have you read Steve Hudson's page? I suspect it does answer your questions.

--
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

See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

 

[Guest]

Hi Charles,

I read the article and it answered my second question regarding section
breaks but it did not answer my first with respect to having these files
uploaded on SharePoint. I am still having issues with this. Currently I
don't think it is possible to build a master off of files on SharePoint, but
if anyone out there knows how, please advise.

Thanks