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Subject:Re: page numbers (Pushing Word to the Limit) From:Beryl Doane <BDoane -at- ENGPO -dot- MSMAILGW -dot- INTERMEC -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 3 Jun 1996 10:50:00 PDT
Word is a powerful word processor. It is not a book management system.
While it can be forced to handle large and complex projects, it is not
an intuitive task. Don't discount it's power or abilities unless you
understand it's limitations. A hammer is a powerful tool, but a chainsaw
makes firewood more quickly. I could pry out nails with the tip of my
chainsaw, but that would be very inefficient (and would damage the
finish).
Know your tools, and their limitations. Learn how you can coax more out
of the tools. The decision to use one tool over another is often out of
our hands as technical communicators. We inherit legacy documents. We
inherit client/company preferences. The decision makers and check-writers
don't always ask for user input, but expect us to plod forward with the
tools at hand.
If your default tool will not do what you need, outline the trade-offs
and make a choice:
o Do what you can with what you have. Rethink your design.
If you can't change the tools, change the output requirements.
o Modify what you can with what you have. Master documents don't work
well. Use RD, REF, INCLUDE, STYLEREF, and other field codes.
Use WordBasic macros. Create templates.
o Research other tools. Buy something that does "everything" you want.
My guess is that you will never find the perfect tool. But you can
learn how to stretch the tools you have.
Now, if anyone wants to know how to efficiently use Word to create 300+ page
books, with complex headers and footers, with 1-1 page numbering, with
dictionary style headings mixed with chapter name headings, send me email
directly: bdoane -at- intermec -dot- com
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