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#1
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Master documents need relative references to subdocument file loc.
Currently, Word only supports absolute references to subdocument file
locations. THis is a problem when developing a Master Document off line in a "development" folder which is moved later to a "Released" folder. The absolute file referencs force the developer to reinsert the subdocuments into the Master document after the path has changed to the master document. Relative references to subdocument file locations would allow the Master document to be moved (provided all subdocuments in the same directory and subfolders were moved with it) |
#2
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Word doesn't do a good job with relative links in any circumstances.
If you ahven't read any of these articles, you may want to peruse them. Using Master Documents is equivalent conciously trying to corrupt your files. http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Genera...ocsCorrupt.htm http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Genera...MasterDocs.htm http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ma...dhomepage.html tj "Peter J" wrote: Currently, Word only supports absolute references to subdocument file locations. THis is a problem when developing a Master Document off line in a "development" folder which is moved later to a "Released" folder. The absolute file referencs force the developer to reinsert the subdocuments into the Master document after the path has changed to the master document. Relative references to subdocument file locations would allow the Master document to be moved (provided all subdocuments in the same directory and subfolders were moved with it) |
#3
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Sorry, I don't have an answer to the question that may be here somewhere,
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/Genera...ocsCorrupt.htm for more information on what goes wrong, and http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Genera...MasterDocs.htm for ideas on how to salvage what you can. See http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ma...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. "Peter J" Peter wrote in message ... Currently, Word only supports absolute references to subdocument file locations. THis is a problem when developing a Master Document off line in a "development" folder which is moved later to a "Released" folder. The absolute file referencs force the developer to reinsert the subdocuments into the Master document after the path has changed to the master document. Relative references to subdocument file locations would allow the Master document to be moved (provided all subdocuments in the same directory and subfolders were moved with it) |
#4
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Thank you for your input. Your references are helpful and you may have saved
me alot of grief. I still like the idea of Master Documents, but I am disappointed that Microsoft hasn't addressed the corruptuion issues. I'm going to check out OpenOffice. PJ "tjtjjtjt" wrote: Word doesn't do a good job with relative links in any circumstances. If you ahven't read any of these articles, you may want to peruse them. Using Master Documents is equivalent conciously trying to corrupt your files. http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Genera...ocsCorrupt.htm http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Genera...MasterDocs.htm http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ma...dhomepage.html tj "Peter J" wrote: Currently, Word only supports absolute references to subdocument file locations. THis is a problem when developing a Master Document off line in a "development" folder which is moved later to a "Released" folder. The absolute file referencs force the developer to reinsert the subdocuments into the Master document after the path has changed to the master document. Relative references to subdocument file locations would allow the Master document to be moved (provided all subdocuments in the same directory and subfolders were moved with it) |
#5
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Thanks for your feedback. I am convinced that I need to find an alternative
to Word master documents... maybe the OpenOffice suite would work. Your articles was very helpful. PJ "Charles Kenyon" wrote: Sorry, I don't have an answer to the question that may be here somewhere, 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/Genera...ocsCorrupt.htm for more information on what goes wrong, and http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Genera...MasterDocs.htm for ideas on how to salvage what you can. See http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ma...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. "Peter J" Peter wrote in message ... Currently, Word only supports absolute references to subdocument file locations. THis is a problem when developing a Master Document off line in a "development" folder which is moved later to a "Released" folder. The absolute file referencs force the developer to reinsert the subdocuments into the Master document after the path has changed to the master document. Relative references to subdocument file locations would allow the Master document to be moved (provided all subdocuments in the same directory and subfolders were moved with it) |
#7
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My understanding is that the Master Document feature in Word Perfect is
robust. WP comes with many new computers. Otherwise, there are workarounds within Word and the MD feature can be made to work in Word, you just have to be _very_ careful with it. I know that John McGhie does use it, he just doesn't recommend it to others. And see also here, for instructions on using it carefully: Steve Hudson [Word Heretic] on how to make Master Documents work safely: http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ma...dhomepage.html |
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