Word2000 losing links to sub-documents

[Bud Blanchard]

I have two master docs. One references about 23 subdocs
and the other references about 30 subdocs (including most
of the 23 subdocs). After making changes to subdocs, I
printed one master without problems but when I open the
second master, all the links to the subdocs are gone. The
sections exist but the toolbar does not allow me to expand
the subdocs. I only open one master doc at a time and I
try to be very careful when closing / saving the
documents.
1) Is there any way to get the subdocs back without re-
inserting them (which is a pain because headers and
footers have to readjusted).
2) What techniques do you use to try to safe guard against
this? The tape backup copy on the server does not contain
the links either.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

See these articles:

Why Master Documents corrupt
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/WhyMasterDocsCorrupt.htm

How to recover a Master Document
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/RecoverMasterDocs.htm

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Bob S]

I have two master docs. One references about 23 subdocs
and the other references about 30 subdocs (including most
of the 23 subdocs). After making changes to subdocs, I
printed one master without problems but when I open the
second master, all the links to the subdocs are gone. The
sections exist but the toolbar does not allow me to expand
the subdocs. I only open one master doc at a time and I
try to be very careful when closing / saving the
documents.
1) Is there any way to get the subdocs back without re-
inserting them (which is a pain because headers and
footers have to readjusted).
2) What techniques do you use to try to safe guard against
this? The tape backup copy on the server does not contain
the links either.

There are lots of good reasons not to use the Master Document feature.

However, if you insist on using it, there is one way to combat this
particular problem. Whenever you save the master, save it twice in two
different places. If one copy loses its links, try the other copy.

Bob S