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Subject:RE: MS Word Master Document to PDF From:"Giordano, Connie" <Connie -dot- Giordano -at- FMR -dot- COM> To:"'Susan Kirsch'" <susan -at- virtualcyber -dot- com>, TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 16 Mar 2000 17:56:42 -0500
Susan,
Points to consider:
Just don't use the Master Document routine at all. It's been horribly buggy
since version 6.0 (at least) and can be further trashed if you run into a
new Word macro virus. In my experience, MS Word can handle documents in
excess of 300 pages with an average of 250 embedded graphics (unless you
have a macro virus--then look out!). You will have to watch bulleting,
numbering (any style incorporating a hanging indent) and addition of styles
to your style sheet, these can be as capricious as Master Document.
If you are including screen captures or other graphics: use .gif format,
256 colors, and search the archives on some of the problems encountered by
other whirlers. I haven't encountered any problems with my own documents
yet, but other folks here who've tried posting PDFs have had major problems
with logo graphics and screen captures being blurry, contorted or odd
colors. I would test a few pages of the document prior to PDFing an entire
doc set, in order to work out the kinks.
Be wary if your web server is or was a Unix platform. We have old
procedures in place for naming PDF files for internet distribution. Some
predecessor, to both the current writers and the current webmaster,
HARD-CODED the naming convention into the posting routine--we're stuck with
this 8.3 convention until they rebuild the website.
Above all, as time allows, test whatever you can and check these archives,
MS and Adobe support KBs for additional information on problems you may
encounter.
"Opinions expressed are my own and do not represent ATS or Fidelity
Investments"
-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Kirsch
[snip]
It is the intention of those above me that a user guide, in the form of a
PDF file, be posted on a Web site for downloading. I've never done it, but
it sounds simple.
However, I have learned to be wary of plans that seem to be "simple." Can
you alert me to potential trolls hiding under that bridge?