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If you've got "Track Changes" turned on, clear the buffer as much as you can, if not entirely. I have to use "Track Changes" since I have multiple engineers contributing to the docs (ugh), but I try to manage that buffer as closely as I can.
You can also dump the Undo/Redo buffer without saving and quitting out of Word. Go to Tools > Protect Document. Highlight the "Forms" radio button, then click "OK." Then go to Tools > Unprotect Document. I've found that periodically dumping this buffer solves a lot of the font problems, but again, you have to manage it closely.
Finally, there's the problem where a change to the font of one word or paragraph makes Word change the formatting in the whole document. (This happens most often when the document is big and/or the change buffer is large.) I've found that if you click the "Undo" button ONCE immediately after the problem occurs, then Word rights itself and the word or paragraph you just changed keeps the new format. This is usually a sign that it's time to dump buffers. ;-)
Hope that helps!
--Yvette
--Yvette Kirby Waters
Technical Writer
Nintendo Technology Development, Inc.
vox: (425) 861-2968
fax: (425) 861-2976
>I guess trying to separate the
graphics from the text into individual files and then using links would be
a solution<
* Yes. Thats the classic way to prevent "bloated" document files
* Are the graphics screen shots taken at 15 zillion colours? If so, you can
normally use PaintShop Pro or similar to reduce the no. of colours. This
gives a smaller graphic file with little or no discernible effect unless you
are doing a high res. print out.
* If the manual is to be printed out on a B/W laser, then just use grayscale
images.
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