A Good Word for the Document Map

[WJ Shack]

Since the feature is regularly dumped on in this list, let me put in a good
word for the Document Map. I have used it since it was first introduced and
it works well for me. This may be because I am typically writing scientific
papers with a well defined structure (heading styles 1-5 for different text
levels, heading 6 for equations, heading 7,8 for figures, and heading 9 for
table titles). With this structure available, Word doesn't seem to try to
figure out a structure, which is where it seems to get into trouble.

It is very convenient to have the pane on the side listing my headings,
equations, figures, and tables. Outline view just isn't as convenient. My
only complaint is that it doesn't recognize heading styles within a table. I
often use a two cell table to have the figure caption beside the figure
(heading 8). Those figures don't show in the DM, although the figures with
the captions below the figure (and no table)--heading 7--do.

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Whatever your name is:

Yes, you are quite correct: it works very nicely if you have a heading
structure already assigned using the built-in heading styles.

However, it creates absolute mayhem if you don't have headings assigned,
they are not assigned by styles, or the styles are not the built-in heading
series, or the styles are linked styles based on the heading series.

Since getting all of that correct is a bit like Bomb Disposal (simple if you
know how, but subject to rather exacting quality requirements...) I tend to
warn people away from it

Headings in a table or text box don't show up, you are correct. Sadly that
is a documented restriction.

Cheers

Since the feature is regularly dumped on in this list, let me put in a good
word for the Document Map. I have used it since it was first introduced and
it works well for me. This may be because I am typically writing scientific
papers with a well defined structure (heading styles 1-5 for different text
levels, heading 6 for equations, heading 7,8 for figures, and heading 9 for
table titles). With this structure available, Word doesn't seem to try to
figure out a structure, which is where it seems to get into trouble.

It is very convenient to have the pane on the side listing my headings,
equations, figures, and tables. Outline view just isn't as convenient. My
only complaint is that it doesn't recognize heading styles within a table. I
often use a two cell table to have the figure caption beside the figure
(heading 8). Those figures don't show in the DM, although the figures with
the captions below the figure (and no table)--heading 7--do.

--
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John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]