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Oh yeah... gotcha on the "accept and reject all changes" concept. I don't use that feature for docs that I work on alone, but sometimes I am compelled to use it so that reviewers at the other end can see/approve the changes I'd made.
In terms of graphics, I'm still generally using .gifs (because I can also use them in RoboHelp files; and I've generally had resolution problems with newer formats such as .pngs in both Word and Help) and some .emfs. Average image size is 50-75 KB; I haven't noticed whether the crashes occur on the bigger pix or not. And as it turns out, I AM anchoring my graphics; as for linking, I'll give it a whirl.
Thanks again.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=tiburoninc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lynne -dot- wright=tiburoninc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Dan Goldstein
Sent: November-24-14 12:36 PM
To: TECHWR-L (techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com)
Subject: RE: Large Documents in Word
No apologies necessary! I know nothing except what I've learned from others - mostly on the Word-PC list, which is pure gold. The good news is, Word is not a lousy word-processing program, it's an excellent one. But unlike Frame, Word is ubiquitous, so people assume that it requires minimal training for power use. Anyway, some details:
The problem with change tracking is that it's cumulative, it's messy, it burdens the document with unnecessary data, and it prevents you from properly applying styles. By "accept and reject all changes," my unclear point was that you want to get rid of the current tracked changes by accepting the ones you agree with and rejecting the ones you don't. Change tracking is sometimes necessary when you're working with a team, but you shouldn't have to track your own changes for your own view.
I include my initials and the date in the file name of any draft that I send to other people, and not just for Word documents! I update that date when I make significant changes. So if I distributed "DudleyDoRight DJG 2014-11-21.xlsx" on Friday and now I'm making significant changes, I'm gonna call the new one "DudleyDoRight DJG 2014-11-24.xlsx."
How large are the graphic files that cause catastrophic crashes, and what file types are they?
An anchored picture is one where text wrapping is in line with text. A floating picture is any of the other options. This is in the Picture Tools ribbon tab (ecch), under Wrap Text.
Text wrapping for tables is in the Table Properties dialog box.
Linking a picture works only if you control the file locations. When you go to the Insert tab, click Picture, and select the image, first click the little arrow next to the word "Insert." One of your options is "Link to File."
Maggie-ing is for any document causing you grief. Maggie Secara promulgated this one on TECHWR-L many years ago. See for example: http://msgroups.net/microsoft.public.mac.office.word/word-crash/63750. There's also an "extended Maggie," where you do this separately for each section of a badly corrupted document.
Word document section breaks should be used only for page format changes: columns, headers and footers, etc. People tend to throw them in too much, especially in imported documents that were created in other applications.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lynne Wright
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2014 12:04 PM
To: Dan Goldstein; TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: Large Documents in Word
Thanks Dan... forgive my Word ignorance, but I've got a few questions:
- "Accept and reject all current changes and save with a new file name."
I'm confused... how can you both accept AND reject something? What do you mean by "current changes"?
And EVERY time I work on a file, I have to save it under a new name? If I work on the same file every day for a month, that's a LOT of renamed drafts.
" Insert graphics from a file"
- If you mean that in the Insert tab, click Picture, then navigate to and select the image, then that's what I've been doing. I'd say that leads to a catastrophic crash about 1 in 20 times.
- how do you anchor a picture or a table?
- "link graphics" ... to what?
- "If the document causes trouble, Maggie it." What does "Maggie it" mean?
- "minimize section breaks" ??? meaning avoid breaking up the material into logical and workable chunks?
Overall, this just confirms my suspicion that Word is actually a pretty lousy word processing program. Which is kind of a relief... I thought the problem was me.
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