Combine documents to a single file

[nielsgeode]

My PhD thesis is very () close to completion and I wish to combine seven word documents (one per chapter) into one large file. It is more convenient to work with one document than repeatedly having to open all chapters to make some minor corrections and I wish to use cross referents to link to other chapters/sections.

Each document contains a numbered endnote list (from insert => endnote): NOT from the 3rd party endnote software. I'd like to have it as follows:

-all seven documents combined into a single file. The heading style is the same for all chapters.
-all headings from all chapters in the navigation pane visible
-after each chapter an endnote list that starts numbering at 1, followed by a new chapter on the next page.
-continuous page numbers throughout the entire thesis



I used google and youtube to solve it, but to no success. Any help?

Niels

[macropod]

You can use INCLUDETEXT fields to combine the contents of multiple documents. Whatever is combined that way will adopt the Styles of the destination document. Edits can be made in either the destination document or the source documents. If you do such an edit in the destination document, you need to press Ctrl-Shift-F7 to apply it to the source document also; otherwise the edit won't 'stick'. Provided each 'Chapter' has its own Section, there should be no problem having the endnotes at the end of each Section and restarting the numbering. Page numbering should be no problem.

[nielsgeode]

Originally Posted by macropod

You can use INCLUDETEXT fields to combine the contents of multiple documents. Whatever is combined that way will adopt the Styles of the destination document. Edits can be made in either the destination document or the source documents. If you do such an edit in the destination document, you need to press Ctrl-Shift-F7 to apply it to the source document also; otherwise the edit won't 'stick'. Provided each 'Chapter' has its own Section, there should be no problem having the endnotes at the end of each Section and restarting the numbering. Page numbering should be no problem.

Thanks

It does make life easier, however, will cross references work then? What I don't like is that you still have multiple files, especially when sending out the documents to my promotor, I foresee issues there. Is there a way to have a single file?

[macropod]

Work in what sense? In that they display, update, and link correctly? Yes.

[nielsgeode]

Originally Posted by macropod

Work in what sense? In that they display, update, and link correctly? Yes.

In that sense indeed

I assume that the destination document is the larger document in which the chapters have been included? What will you see in the individual chapter files if you cross-ref to a different chapter heading in the larger document?

[macropod]

Originally Posted by nielsgeode

I assume that the destination document is the larger document in which the chapters have been included?

Yes.

Originally Posted by nielsgeode

What will you see in the individual chapter files if you cross-ref to a different chapter heading in the larger document?

The only way you can cross-reference between documents is, in fact, via INCLUDETEXT fields - in this case adding a bookmark reference in addition to the file reference.

To be honest, though, I haven't tried cross-referencing within a destination document between one linked document and other. Whilst I can see how the bookmarking part would work, I don't know whether creating the cross-reference would of itself create the INCLUDETEXT field that would normally be required or whether the destination document can handle that for itself. The worst-case scenario is that you'd have to create an INCLUDETEXT field in the document from which you want to deploy the cross-reference.

[nielsgeode]

Originally Posted by macropod

Yes.

The only way you can cross-reference between documents is, in fact, via INCLUDETEXT fields - in this case adding a bookmark reference in addition to the file reference.

To be honest, though, I haven't tried cross-referencing within a destination document between one linked document and other. Whilst I can see how the bookmarking part would work, I don't know whether creating the cross-reference would of itself create the INCLUDETEXT field that would normally be required or whether the destination document can handle that for itself. The worst-case scenario is that you'd have to create an INCLUDETEXT field in the document from which you want to deploy the cross-reference.

That does sound quite complicated Can't I just put all 'stuff' in one single, large file?

[macropod]

Originally Posted by nielsgeode

Can't I just put all 'stuff' in one single, large file?

Sure you can, provided the combined file size doesn't exceed 512Mb, but the impression I got from your initial post is that you wanted to maintain the set of seven documents through a single document. Do be aware, too, that whichever way you combine the documents, working with the combined one will be slower than working with the separate ones - even if you had them all open at the same time.