unlocking a subdocument in a master document

[Guest]

Hi all,

I have the following situation. I have a master document and 8 subdocuments.
I open up the master document, expand all subdocuments and work in "print
layout". I can't do anything in chapter 6, since it is locked (all other
subdocuments are not locked and I can change text in them). This problem is
easily solved by going into outline, go to chapter 6 and click on the icon
"lock document". From then on, I can work easily in chapter 6 too.
When finished, I save the master document (and consequently all subdocuments
therefore as well). Next time I open my master document, expand my
subdocuments, chapter 6 seems to be locked again, and I have to repeat the
procedure just mentioned. How can I keep that subdocument unlocked so that
when I save everything, it is saved "unlocked" and when I open it again, it
is directly available, i.e. I don't have to unlock it again?

Anyone?

ta

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?RnJhbmsgRHJvc3Q=?=,

I have the following situation. I have a master document and 8 subdocuments.
I open up the master document, expand all subdocuments and work in "print
layout". I can't do anything in chapter 6, since it is locked (all other
subdocuments are not locked and I can change text in them). This problem is
easily solved by going into outline, go to chapter 6 and click on the icon
"lock document". From then on, I can work easily in chapter 6 too.
When finished, I save the master document (and consequently all subdocuments
therefore as well). Next time I open my master document, expand my
subdocuments, chapter 6 seems to be locked again, and I have to repeat the
procedure just mentioned. How can I keep that subdocument unlocked so that
when I save everything, it is saved "unlocked" and when I open it again, it
is directly available, i.e. I don't have to unlock it again?

I'd try deleting the current Master Doc and rebuilding it again from scratch...

Note that you'll find all kinds of warnings against using this feature. It's
inherently unstable and can result in a complete loss of the entire content, in
a worst case scenario. Basically, it was designed to pull separate files
together for generating TOCs, indexes and then printing the result. It was NOT
made for editing the sub-documents in place, or anything of that nature.

You also want to keep regular backups of the Sub document files, when the
Master document is not open.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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[Daiya Mitchell]

Note that you'll find all kinds of warnings against using this feature.

For instance:

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

I believe Word Heretic's cardinal rule is never edit from within the master
document, which is exactly the opposite of what you are doing.