Documents grows in size uncontrollably

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Jerry - 24 Nov 2004 12:28 GMT

I've been working on a large document (220 pages, 9 MB), mainly changing the
formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document now
objectively contains less information, but is 60 MB in size. Why is this?

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Suzanne S. Barnhill - 24 Nov 2004 15:26 GMT

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

6. Embedded graphics: When feasible, it is preferable to link the graphics.

7. 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.

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

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Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
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> I've been working on a large document (220 pages, 9 MB), mainly changing the
> formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document now
> objectively contains less information, but is 60 MB in size. Why is this?

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Jerry - 24 Nov 2004 16:36 GMT

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, it is none of the issues listed.
I went through that and also turned off stuff like "Embed linguistic info"
but the document remained stubbornly large.

I just tried copying everything and pasting it in a new document,
and the size went down to the original 9 megs.

Word works in mysterious ways...

| There are a number of reasons for excessive file size, including:
|
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
| > formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document now
| > objectively contains less information, but is 60 MB in size. Why is this?

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E. Barry Bruyea - 25 Nov 2004 20:11 GMT

>I've been working on a large document (220 pages, 9 MB), mainly changing the
>formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document now
>objectively contains less information, but is 60 MB in size. Why is this?

Do you have a lot of graphics? Even the 9meg seems high; I have a 450
page manuscript that is less than 1 meg and I have embedded fonts.

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Elliott Roper - 25 Nov 2004 20:54 GMT

> >I've been working on a large document (220 pages, 9 MB), mainly changing the
> >formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document now
> >objectively contains less information, but is 60 MB in size. Why is this?

I'm on a Mac, where the "allow fast saves" preference/setting causes
that. It might be the same for you, since it is for ever recording
keystrokes and operations you have performed. Do a save-as. Open the
new one and check the settings. See what happens.

> Do you have a lot of graphics? Even the 9meg seems high; I have a 450
> page manuscript that is less than 1 meg and I have embedded fonts.

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Jerry - 03 Dec 2004 16:41 GMT

Now I have it! (got that indicated in another group): it was embedded
graphics.
For some reason if you embed something, e.g. an Excel graph, as opposed to
just pasting it as a bitmap, and then resize it, it makes the file grow.

I had a number of Visio diagrams; when I converted them to ordinary
graphics, the problem was gone.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

| > >I've been working on a large document (220 pages, 9 MB), mainly changing the
| > >formatting, rearranging paragraphs and deleting comments. The document now
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
| > Do you have a lot of graphics? Even the 9meg seems high; I have a 450
| > page manuscript that is less than 1 meg and I have embedded fonts.

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