Huge file growth with linked graphics

[noblehouse]

I have a number of documents that describe how to use a
software product, and include a number of screen shots.
Previously I have captured the screen shots to the
Clipboard, then pasted into Word. Because I need to re-
use some of the pix in other documents, I decided to
instead save the screen captures as JPGs, then insert
links to them in my Word document. As a test I copied one
of my smaller docs and replaced all the pasted-in screen
shots with links to the jpgs stored on a network drive.
(Insert - Object - Create from File - etc.) With this one
change, my document that was 368KB grew to over 20MB. I
thought the links would make the file size smaller -- not
larger. Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks

 

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

 

[Guest]

I've checked all the settings, and they are all as you
suggest.
I tried taking all of the links out, and the text-only
document size was 175K, so the document itself seems OK.
I did some experimenting -- inserted one link, and the
file size grew to over 2 MB. I kept trying different
things - but each link I put in seems to increase my file
size by about 2MB.

I'm at a loss -- I really want to have linked graphics in
my docs, and I keep reading everywhere that graphics-as-
links keep your files small, but I'm just not having this
experience. BTW, the jpg I am linking to is only about
100K.

Does anyone have any idea what is happening, or what I
can do to research it more?

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

I found out the answer!!!!

I was inserting the link to the picture by going to
Insert - Object - From File, then browsing for the file
name and checking the Link checkbox. This method added
about 2MB to my file size for each picture and was
driving me mad.

Someone in our I.T. department figured it out -- to
insert the link, select Insert - Picture - From File.
When the Insert Picture dialog box opens, select the
picture, then click the arrow next to the Insert button
and select Link. This inserts the picture as a link as I
would expect. I don't know what the difference is, but
I'm so happy to know the answer...