What causes "insufficient memory" message in a small Word doc?

[WordsmithMarcia]

What causes an "insufficient memorny" message in a small Word document? My
file is 362 KB and has no graphics or photos, just text and some small
tables. I have gotten this error message when I am inserting a watermark and
answered "No" to a "do you want to continue?" question, yet the watermark is
still inserted and works OK. I think I've gotten the message after other
actions, too.

I remember that, years ago when I was first using Word (mid-90s), there was
an operating mode where every time you changed or deleted something, it
increased the file size and slowed down Word's operation. The "deleted"
items never really went away, but were just 'hiding", so you couldn't
decrease the file size by "deleting" large items--this only made the problem
worse, and the file size grew inexorably and the system slowed down more and
more. Can this still happen? There was some very simple solution (turning
some function or operation al mode on or off) but I can't remember it.

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

You might be remembering the Master Document feature, or maybe
the Versions feature. Anyway, see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/CorruptDoc.htm .

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Or "Fast Saves." Or "Track Changes."

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[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. Keep track of formatting (Tools | Options | Edit). This is reportedly a
major cause of file bloat in Word 2002 and above.

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

7. Embedded linguistic data (Tools | Options | Save).

8. Embedded graphics: When feasible, it is preferable to link the graphics.
That is, when you insert the graphic, click the arrow beside Insert in the
Picture dialog and choose Link to File rather than Insert or Insert and
Link.

9. Embedded objects: These are even worse than ordinary graphics saved with
the document. If you see an { EMBED } code when you press Alt+F9, the
graphic is an OLE object. Unless you need to be able to edit the object in
place, unlink it using Ctrl+Shift+F9.

10. 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.

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


--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org