Create chapters w/in one doc.

[joan \(removethis\)]

I would like to use Microsoft Word more effectively for
writing/editing books. It would be ideal to be able to
have a "workbook" with separate "worksheet" tabs along the
bottom for each chapter or section of the book -- similar
to the way Excel can be used. I have found that I either
have to keep each chapter in a separate Word document or I
have to have a massively long document that you have to
either bookmark the dickens out of or scroll through
forever. (I don't find these features in Publisher
either.)


Does anyone have any tips or tricks for using Word more
effectively for long documents? Or is there other
Microsoft Software for creating books that I don't know
about? Thank you.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If you create a TOC at the beginning, you can use that to quickly access the
various headings (each entry is hyperlinked to the page). Also, if you have
headings, you will see them as ScreenTips as you scroll using the vertical
scroll bar. Many users like to use the Document Map for rapid access to
subheads. There's a new view in Word 2003 that's handy if you have graphics
on the pages (or other distinguishing features): Thumbnails.

 

[Robert M. Franz]

Hi Joan

joan (removethis) @exactediting.com wrote:
[..]

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for using Word more
effectively for long documents? Or is there other
Microsoft Software for creating books that I don't know
about?

See also:

How to save yourself hours by using Outline View properly
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Formatting/UsingOLView.htm

And, since you ask generally, maybe:

Creating a Template (Part II, by John McGhie)
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/CreateATemplatePart2.htm

Working with Sections (by Dave Rado)
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/WorkWithSections.htm

Greetinx
..bob

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

More options in lieu of manual bookmarking:

Click on the small circle between the two double arrows at the bottom of the
vertical scroll bar. It will produce a menu of icons, as you move over the
icons, the top bar will read "browse by heading", another "browse by
section". After setting the "browse by X," click on the double arrows for
Next X or Previous X. This can be very useful. I added two icons to my
toolbar linked to macros to go to the next heading, and go to previous
heading, which I offer below in case you find them useful.

One caveat about the Document Map--if you have one-line paragraphs, the
DocMap may assume they are headings, which can cause fixable but annoying
problems.

The MVP page that Robert referred you to has many useful articles, and note
that you can use Google Groups (advanced group search) to search the
microsoft.public.word.* hierarchy of groups--you will find a number of
threads where people wrote in and asked about advice for writing long
documents/multi-chapter books in Word, and you may find the responses, some
of them quite extended, helpful. Effective usage generally boils down to
learn how Word works, and customize everything you can to suit your needs
and way of working. Word is the best MS software for creating books, but
many of the most useful/helpful features are somewhat buried.

Macros

(Substituting Section for Heading should also work fine, if that's
preferable for you. These macros were recorded, and are not very complex,
and you could easily record your own.)

Sub NextHeading()
'
' goes to next heading
'
Application.Browser.Target = wdBrowseHeading
Application.Browser.Next
End Sub

Sub PrevHeading()
'
' PrevHeading Macro
' Goes to Previous Heading
'
Application.Browser.Target = wdBrowseHeading
Application.Browser.Previous
End Sub

See also, if necessary:

What do I do with macros sent to me by other newsgroup readers to help me
out?
I don't know how to install them and put them to use
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/MacrosVBA/CreateAMacro.htm