Unlocking subdocuments

[Lyana]

After I made edits in Track Changes, I saved the subdocument and then opened
the master document. The subdocument was locked within the master document.
I expanded the subdocuments, located the the one I needed, and wanted to
unlock it. The icon on the Outlining toolbar shows that I can do this (it's
not gray). But when i click on the Lock/Unlock icon to unlock the
subdocument, this message occurs:

"The operation cannot be complete because the subdocument has a different
type of protection from the master document. Make the protection the same
for the master document and subdocument."

What does this mean and how can I change the protection?
Thank you!

 

[Charles Kenyon]

Sorry, I don't have an answer because I don't use Master Documents. However,
you may need the reason I don't more than you need an answer. "Master
Document" is a term of art in Word referring to a "feature" that not only
doesn't work but also destroys documents. The consensus (with the limited
exception of Steve Hudson) among those offering advice on these newsgroups
is that using the Master Document feature is a good way to destroy your
document. It can destroy parts of your document that you are not even
working on! I think John McGhie said it succinctly when he said that there
are two kinds of Master Documents: Those that are corrupt and those that
will be corrupt soon. See
http://www.addbalance.com/word/masterdocuments.htm for information on the
Master Document feature and workarounds. See
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/WhyMasterDocsCorrupt.htm for more
information on what goes wrong, and
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/RecoverMasterDocs.htm for ideas on how
to salvage what you can. See
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/magazine/technical/masterdocs.doc for
Steve Hudson's instructions if you are willing to follow them very
carefully.