Large Doc hangs PC

[Rick]

The documents I create are heavy in graphics (about 2 per
page) and heavy in cross references (1 or 2 per page). The
graphics are linked, not embedded. Most of these never
exceed 60 to 80 pages.

On my current document, when I hit 104 pages, the CPU pegs
at 94-99%, but does not lock up the program or computer.
When I re-open the document, the CPU is at 1% until I make
any type of edit to the document, then it pegs again. (Word
2000/SP3, 2.4 GHz P4, 1 Gb RAM).

I can repeat this by deleting text, saving and re-opening
the document, and then adding new text back in. Everything
is fine until I reach 104 pages.

Thinking I had a corrupt file, I went back to some older
files and copy/pasted enough of their own text to bring the
page count over 100 (150-180 in some cases). Each time I
would get the same results, although it varied on haw many
pages it took.

I also went back to a 4 year old document that used a
completely different template. The page count differed, but
the results were the same.

Any ideas?

 

[Stephanie Krieger]

Hi, Rick,

Sounds like you might just be reaching a threshold ...
you are asking a lot of these documents (in terms of the
graphics, in particular) - but we can probably find you a
pretty easy solution.

I'll need a bit more info:

- What is the file size of a typical one of these
documents when it starts experiencing problems?

- What type of graphics are they (and what's the source
application)?

- Is it necessary that they all be linked rather than
pasted as pictures? (If you don't have to frequently edit
these graphics once they're pasted, pictures will use
much less memory and be easier for the document to manage
than so many linked objects.)

- Also, what layout option do you use for the graphics
(do you use text wrap or are the objects all inline with
text? (i.e., what option is selected in Format, Object,
Layout)? (objects with text wrap -- particularly so many
in one document -- can become a source of instability.
Inline objects and pictures are much easier for the
document to manage (and easier to format as well).

Best,
Stephanie Krieger
author of Microsoft Office Document Designer
e-mail: MODD_2003 at msn dot com
blog: arouet.net

 

[Rick]

I knew as soon as I left the office that I forgot to
mention that the DOC files are only 500K in size. If I were
to embed the graphics, the file size would balloon to over
100Meg. I keep the graphics linked so they can be updated
easily.

The graphics are 300 DPI JPG's from Adobe Illustrator, and
are located in a subdirectory of the DOC file location.

The graphics are placed using the default settings of
in-line with text on their own line (no wrap settings).

Memory shouldn't be a problem. I just upgraded to 1 Gb
memory recently, and do not notice anything odd when I
reach this threshold. I've bogged the PC down by
simultaneously running SolidWorks, Illustrator, Photoshop,
Word, Notes, Agile, FrameMaker, VisualCad, and Netscape to
the point where Windows had to increase the page file size,
but still didn't have this problem.
==================
Here's a sudden twist:
I brought the files home with me, and I just opened the
file on my main home PC (comparable to the work PC, except
it is running Win2K instead of XP (same version of Word)).
The CPU did not spike. As a matter of fact, I just
copy/pasted the text to 400 pages without a problem.

So I decided to open the file on an old laptop PC that I
also use. The CPU spiked at 100%. This laptop also uses
Win2k like my main home computer, but only has a 333MHz
processor and 256Mb RAM.

This tells me it is not a Win2k versus WinXP issue. Nor is
it memory (the home PC only has 768Mb memory). Both PC's
are well maintained (but this laptop isn't). Nor is it a
Word service pack issue (I upgraded the work PC to SP3
without change). If I had to make a comparison, I would say
the work PC is newer, better, and better maintained than my
home PC. Nonetheless, they are still similar. (Both are 2.4
GHz P4's)

So the good news is that it is not a Word 2000 roadblock,
which I was very afraid of. The bad news is that I am even
more puzzled as to the cause.

 

[Stephanie Krieger]

Hi, Rick,

It could still be a memory issue ... 1GB of memory
doesn't always behave the same. Many variables could
cause your pc with 768k to have more capabiliy than your
Office PC. Network, installed apps, what's running in
startup ... and Illustrator is no lightweight (I use it
constantly myself).

Do the linked files exist on the local hard drives of all
computers where you're opening these files, and are you
updating links at each edit?

One last try: are there addins installed or other apps
integrated with and running within your Office pc's
version of Word? There are some addins that could
certainly make that difference. For example -- does your
Office use a document management application integrated
with Word like DocsOpen or Desksite?

I hope these notes are useful. I don't expect to get back
to the newsgroups again this week -- so I'll most likely
not see anything else you post today.

With the volume of linked graphics your using -- I have
to say I think it's great that you haven't had an issue
until this point. I know this might not be an option for
you, but I'd recommend that you reconsider pasting as
pictures. Pictures formatted as your linked objects are
(that is, inline with text) are going to be much easier
for such a complex doc to handle regardless of the
computer environment. It doesn't take but a minute to
copy and paste a picture to update it. (If you want to
convert linked objects to pictures in an existing doc,
press Alt+F9 to toggle all field codes in your document
(this will make each linked graphic look like a field -
you can also select a single graphic and press Shift+F9
just to toggle that one.) Then click into the field code
for any graphic you want to convert and press
Ctrl+Shift+F9. Technically, Ctrl+Shift+F9 will do the job
right on the graphic without toggling to show the field --
but in Word 2000, I've experienced crashing of the
document when trying this on the object rather than the
field code.)

Best,
Stephanie

 

[Rick]

The graphic files are set up the same on each PC.

There are no add-on applications.

Even when Word is not the active program, it still takes up
the processor. Only when I minimize Word, will the CPU
drops off to normal.

I've tried using picture place holders and field codes, but
no change.

 

[Bob S]

What is the size of the page file on the three machines?

Bob S