Word 2003 master document converted to single web page problem

[KAB]

When I convert a simple master document to a single web page my links don't
work. They do when I convert to Web page or Web page, filtered. Any ideas?

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Kab,

Well, it's a scenario unfortunately combining two of Word's 'iffiest' features

- Master Documents
- MHT (Single document webpage)

especially if you then move the document and Word has stored relative links.

Can you be more specific on what is happening, steps to reproduce?

===========
When I convert a simple master document to a single web page my links don't
work. They do when I convert to Web page or Web page, filtered. Any ideas?>>

 

[KAB]

Thanks for the reply. What happens is that the converted document does show
links for each subdocument but the link is to a local file something like
this:

file:///C:\2088D4D3\Test subdocumen1.mht when you look at it in IE.

and the folder doesn't exist. I have all documents in one folder and I
don't want any absolute addresses since these will not work when uploaded to
a Web server.

I can live with the fact that the result isn't a single file but not the bad
links.

Thanks for any help.

 

[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.

 

[KAB]

Charles,

I have already read the "bible" you referenced on master documents and it
was very helpful. I haven't run into any problems with Word 2003 but I am
not putting together a 700 page document, either. After all the warnings,
I've been surprised at how little trouble I've had. I can certainly use Web
pages or Web pages filtered with no problems but I thought there might be a
secret I didn't know about the single Web page approach.

I've never been a big fan of using Word for converting documents to HTML but
2003 seems to be better than earlier versions. Give me FrontPage instead any
day.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Kab,

Have you turned off the setting in Tools=>Options=>General=>WebOptions
for updating links on save and saved to the MHT file?

Can you zip and email me a sample master/sub document set
that you're using?

======
Thanks for the reply. What happens is that the converted document does show
links for each subdocument but the link is to a local file something like
this:

file:///C:\2088D4D3\Test subdocumen1.mht when you look at it in IE.

and the folder doesn't exist. I have all documents in one folder and I
don't want any absolute addresses since these will not work when uploaded to
a Web server.

I can live with the fact that the result isn't a single file but not the bad
links.

Thanks for any help. >>

 

[KAB]

Bob,

Sorry for the delay. I was on an extended exploration of my newly adopted
state of California -- and it is a knockout in beauty!

Anyhow, I have tried it with your suggestion of turning off the updating
links on save in Options with no success. The only other thing I can think
of is that I always answer "Yes" to the question about saving the converted
files to new files rather than overwrite the originals. I have a zipped file
but don't know how to send it to you. Note that it consists of one Heading1
and a single subdocument of one line created separately so it isn't anything
fancy. My actual document has more content but the problem occurs even in
the simplest of files.

Thanks for any help,

KAB