How large can a Word document be?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Smiley
  • Start date Start date
S

Smiley

I am building a very large document with a lot of tables.
I was wondering if anyone knows how large a document can
Microsoft Word build? Is there a size limit? I'm using
Word XP.
 
Look up 'limits' in Help. In Word 2000 the maximum file size is 32Mb; but
you'll likely find it gets cumbersome to work with before you reach that
limit. I've found it's usually quicker to work with separate documents, such
as one for each section. Also safer: the larger the document, the greater
the likelihood of corruption and the greater the cost if it does get
corrupt.
 
The document can contain 32mb of text, but can grow even larger when other
elements are included. Documents of hundreds of pages are common, thousands
possible. Keep a few backups and don't be tempted to use the Master Document
tools, which are notorious for losing work.

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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Smiley said:
I am building a very large document with a lot of tables.
I was wondering if anyone knows how large a document can
Microsoft Word build? Is there a size limit?
Click to expand...

There is a size limit ... and it's partly dependent on your RAM
amount. Long before you reach the theoretical maximum size, you
will be so annoyed at the slow loading, paging, and saving that
you will split the document.

I've had 800+-pagers of plain text ... the practical maximum for
a document with tables and styles is 100 or so pages.

DO NOT use the "master document" feature. Unless a miracle has
happened, it's fatally buggy and will destroy your work. Split
the file at logical breaks in content and use the "RD" field to
build tables of contents.

Tsu Dho Nimh
 
I would quibble with the statement that "the practical maximum for a
document with tables and styles is 100 or so pages." I worked on a book that
had hundreds of linked photos and many hundreds of pages of nothing but
tables (not to mention a huge index). The total document is 350 pages long.
I was able to work with this without difficulty in Word 97 on a relatively
slow machine (PIII running at 200 MHz with only 16 MB of RAM). Naturally, it
is slicker on a faster machine with more RAM, but it was not painful on the
old one.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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