Documents grows in size uncontrollably

[Jerry]

I've been working on a large document (220 pages, 9 MB), mainly changing the
formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document now
objectively contains less information, but is 60 MB in size. Why is this?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

There are a number of reasons for excessive file size, including:

1. Fast Saves: Disable this at on the Save tab of Tools | Options.

2. Preview Picture: Clear the check box on the Summary tab of File |
Properties.

3. Versions (File | Versions): Make sure "Automatically save version on
close" is not turned on.

4. Revisions (Tools | Track Changes):
Highlight Changes: Make sure "Highlight changes on screen" is turned on
(or that "Final Showing Markup" is displayed).
Accept/Reject Changes: If "Accept All" or "Reject All" is available then
revisions are present; accept or reject all changes, then turn Track Changes
off.

5. Embedded True Type fonts (Tools | Options | Save); embedding fonts should
be avoided wherever possible.

6. Embedded graphics: When feasible, it is preferable to link the graphics.

7. File format: Make sure you are saving as a Word document; in some cases
..rtf (Rich Text Format) files are significantly larger than .doc files.

8. Document corruption: See
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/AppErrors/CorruptDoc.htm.

 

[Jerry]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, it is none of the issues listed.
I went through that and also turned off stuff like "Embed linguistic info"
but the document remained stubbornly large.

I just tried copying everything and pasting it in a new document,
and the size went down to the original 9 megs.

Word works in mysterious ways...


| There are a number of reasons for excessive file size, including:
|
| 1. Fast Saves: Disable this at on the Save tab of Tools | Options.
|
| 2. Preview Picture: Clear the check box on the Summary tab of File |
| Properties.
|
| 3. Versions (File | Versions): Make sure "Automatically save version on
| close" is not turned on.
|
| 4. Revisions (Tools | Track Changes):
| Highlight Changes: Make sure "Highlight changes on screen" is turned on
| (or that "Final Showing Markup" is displayed).
| Accept/Reject Changes: If "Accept All" or "Reject All" is available
then
| revisions are present; accept or reject all changes, then turn Track
Changes
| off.
|
| 5. Embedded True Type fonts (Tools | Options | Save); embedding fonts
should
| be avoided wherever possible.
|
| 6. Embedded graphics: When feasible, it is preferable to link the
graphics.
|
| 7. File format: Make sure you are saving as a Word document; in some cases
| .rtf (Rich Text Format) files are significantly larger than .doc files.
|
| 8. Document corruption: See
| http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/AppErrors/CorruptDoc.htm.
|
| --
| Suzanne S. Barnhill
| Microsoft MVP (Word)
| Words into Type
| Fairhope, Alabama USA
|
| Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup
so
| all may benefit.
|
| | > I've been working on a large document (220 pages, 9 MB), mainly changing
| the
| > formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document
now
| > objectively contains less information, but is 60 MB in size. Why is
this?
| >
| >
|

 

[E. Barry Bruyea]

I've been working on a large document (220 pages, 9 MB), mainly changing the
formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document now
objectively contains less information, but is 60 MB in size. Why is this?

Do you have a lot of graphics? Even the 9meg seems high; I have a 450
page manuscript that is less than 1 meg and I have embedded fonts.

 

[Elliott Roper]

I'm on a Mac, where the "allow fast saves" preference/setting causes
that. It might be the same for you, since it is for ever recording
keystrokes and operations you have performed. Do a save-as. Open the
new one and check the settings. See what happens.

 

[Jerry]

Now I have it! (got that indicated in another group): it was embedded
graphics.
For some reason if you embed something, e.g. an Excel graph, as opposed to
just pasting it as a bitmap, and then resize it, it makes the file grow.

I had a number of Visio diagrams; when I converted them to ordinary
graphics, the problem was gone.

Thanks to everyone for your help.


| In article <[email protected]>, E. Barry
|
| > On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 13:28:13 +0100, "Jerry"
| >
| > >I've been working on a large document (220 pages, 9 MB), mainly
changing the
| > >formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document
now
| > >objectively contains less information, but is 60 MB in size. Why is
this?
|
| I'm on a Mac, where the "allow fast saves" preference/setting causes
| that. It might be the same for you, since it is for ever recording
| keystrokes and operations you have performed. Do a save-as. Open the
| new one and check the settings. See what happens.
| >
| > Do you have a lot of graphics? Even the 9meg seems high; I have a 450
| > page manuscript that is less than 1 meg and I have embedded fonts.
| > >
| >
|
| --
| I thought I would be the last on earth to mung my e-mail address.
| fsnospam$elliott$$