Word 2000 in a Nutshell

Chapter 17. Using Master Documents

A master document contains links to other documents and makes it easy to apply formatting, check spelling, create indexes, and number pages throughout those other documents all at once. Think of a master document as a container that lets you view, edit, and perform other tasks on all of the subdocuments it links to. For example, you might organize the chapters of a book as separate subdocuments linked to from a single master document. You could then use the master document to apply formatting changes globally across the book, number all of the pages in the book, and print the pages all at once.

Creating a Master Document

There are a couple of basic strategies for creating a master document. The first is to create a master document and then create subdocuments from within it. The second is to create a master document that groups other documents that already exist. Either way, you will create the master document in the same way.

Create a Folder for the Master Document First

Before you get started creating a master document and subdocuments, create a folder for them all. Moving master and subdocuments around after creating them breaks the link between the master document and the subdocument.

Start a new blank document with File → New or a new document based on any other template. In the new document, switch to Outline view. Word displays the Outlining toolbar. The tools used to create and control a master document are grouped at the right end (