If you use MS Word to write documents, you might find the following tips helpful.
I use Word to write documents up to 200 pages, even longer, and have managed to keep the document in good shape by following guidelines.
- Formatting — avoid cutting/pasting material directly from one file into another as this brings unwanted styles in the target Word file. Instead convert it to raw text and then import it. Copy and pasting from other documents overloads the Normal.dot template file leading to corrupting.
- Styles — create specific styles and avoid over-riding settings. Avoid using the default settings in the Normal.com template file. Redundant styles. If you don’t need the styles, delete them.
- Graphics – avoid using cut/paste graphics into Word. Instead, reference them with Insert Picture etc. Don’t paste a massive 5 MB file into Word, then resize. Use Snagit or PicPic to resize first, then bring it on. Tip: insert graphics only after all other content has been built!
- Tables — avoid the default Word auto-format settings. Instead, create your own styles in Word and apply these.
- Bullets — use styles to create bullets. Avoid using the toolbar and menu options to create bullets. Avoid over-rides. Bullet lists create more damage than any other feature in Word I know.
- Automatic Save – Turn off Allow Fast Save and Save Auto Recover. See Tools > Options > Save > Allow Fast Save.
- Multiple Languages — this is an outliner but make sure you don’t have several different dictionaries applied to the same document.
