2 issues driving me crazy

[esoteric word user]

Easy first: in word 2004 for mac, how can i increase the number of items to
"undo" from 1 to about 15? I've look in all the preferences I can find.

2nd, how can i learn more about keeping large documents from suddenly
getting a lot larger - like from 650 kb to 1.4 Mbs? They usually go back
down if I recopy them into new documents, but this sometimes screws up the
formatting and causes incredible headaches. Sometimes the doc may become
corrupt, sometimes nota can I get info on this problem to avoid it?h
Thanks VERY much,
Carole

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Easy first: in word 2004 for mac, how can i increase the number of items to
"undo" from 1 to about 15? I've look in all the preferences I can find.

No preference settings are required. Word04 can already do many more
than 15 Undo's. I don't recall how many items the undo stack can hold,
but I know I've done at least 140.

To undo multiple items at once, click the arrow at the right side of the
Undo control, and scroll down as far as necessary.

Of course, some actions, such as closing and reopening the document,
will delete the undo stack.

2nd, how can i learn more about keeping large documents from suddenly
getting a lot larger - like from 650 kb to 1.4 Mbs? They usually go back
down if I recopy them into new documents, but this sometimes screws up the
formatting and causes incredible headaches. Sometimes the doc may become
corrupt, sometimes nota can I get info on this problem to avoid it?h

The most egregious culprit is Fast Saves:

http://www.mcgimpsey.com/macoffice/word/fastsaves.html

however, it could be corruption instead:

http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/DocumentCorruption.htm

(hit refresh a couple of times if you're using Safari).

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Carole -

Issue #1- There is no Preference to change, nor is there need for one as it
is _not_ limited to one in the first place. Each time you Open/Create a Word
doc it will automatically track the undoable actions you take as long as the
file is open (even if you save as you go). There may be a limit to the
number of undoable actions. I don't believe there is, but it is certainly
more than 15 if limited at all.

Use the down arrow on the right edge of the Undo button to see a list of
undoable actions. Or you can repeatedly click the Undo button or use Cmd+Z
repeatedly to undo 1 action at a time. You can select as far back in the
list as you wish & everything back to that point will be undone. You simply
can't pick 'n' choose individual items from within the list.

If you are finding it to work differently, post back with as much additional
info as possible.


Issue #2- need more info about the files/circumstances involved; when do
they 'get larger', what type of content (images, etc.), is a network
involved, OS version, Office Updates (current is 11.2.1), anything else you
can share?

HTH |:>)

 

[esoteric word user]

Hi and thanks for your input. I've always only used command z. I just
responded to cyber taz that i'm having trouble with my cursor jumping around
on my newish g4 powerbook. I've slowed it down and checked the "ignore
random mouse pad ...." but it still does it, especially when using it on my
lap. Thats the reason i'm having to do so much undoing. And usually it only
allows me 1 shot to bring back something it deleted. I'll experiment with
the undo key.

re issue 2, files gaining cyber weight, i've turned off fast save,
eliminated section breaks and read some stuff on the problem of what causes
corruption. Do you think frequent saving while editing would be similar to
fast saving and be the source of the problem? Since we do have crashes
periodically, we do alot of saving not to lose our small editorial changes,
things we may not remember.

Thnks again for your help,
Carole

 

[esoteric word user]

I just wrote you a long reply which somehow disappeared...I'm not going to
start all over, however, I'd like to send you the additional information
about my versions etc., since i know there may be small bugs or problems with
each, including my jumpy cursor problem.

The word docs that i have trouble with are long - 30 to 90 page scientific
manuscripts with TOCs, outline numbering, a few figures, tables, etc.

I have already stopped using fast save, section breaks, etc., but am
wondering if frequent saves while editing might be the cause of the problem.
Would closing and reopening the document help? I know last night we were
working on a document, both using mac for word 2004, and the doc was about
600 kb when i sent it back to her. We both use aol. She had done only minor
editorial changes, no copying from outside documents - and suddenly when she
closed out and sent it to the client, the doc was up to 1.3 Mbs.
She bcc'd me, and it was 1.3 to me too. I opened it, copied it into a new
doc, and it went back to 664 or something like that. But thats a dangerous
manuever with a doc like ours. It can take hours to fix one that loses
formatting and we can't charge for the time spent fixing.
I'll mail you the version numbers shortly. I'm so glad to find this website!
HNY,
Carole

 

[CyberTaz]

Are you using Track Changes, by any chance?

What about graphic objects, pictures, etc.?

Also, saving frequently won't enlarge the file... Fast Saves is totally
unrelated.

Regards |:>)

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Carole,

Are you sure that your friend has also turned off fast saves?

In answer to your question about frequent saves: no, they should not be the
problem. In fact, it is advisable to save often. It is also a good idea to
turn on "Always Make Backup" in Word's Save preferences. This will give you
a back up of your document that is accurate to the last time you hit Save.
That way, if you save often, and something unforeseen does happen to the
document, at least you won't be losing very much.

Did you try the 'save all but the last paragraph mark' method for
uncorrupting a document? The procedure is in the article that JE pointed
you to a few messages ago:
<http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/DocumentCorruption.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice; better yet, use another
browser.)

If you try this procedure and the document shrinks, but then swells again in
short order, it's possible that a particular element (like a table) is
corrupt, even though the document isn't. To test for that, try the 'binary
search' procedure outlined towards the end of the article.

HTH

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice ­ or use another browser.)
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>