Working with Large Documents

You can use Writer to work on large documents. Large documents can be either a single file or a collection of files assembled into a single document.

Navigating in Large Documents

The Navigator tool displays information about the contents of a document. It also lets you quickly jump to different elements. For example, you can use the Navigator to get a quick overview of all images included in the document.

To open the Navigator, click View+Navigator or press F5. The elements listed in the Navigator vary according to the document loaded in Writer.

Figure 2.3. Navigator Tool in Writer

Navigator Tool in Writer

Click an item in the Navigator to jump to that item in the document.

Using Master Documents

If you are working with a very large document, such as a book, you might find it easier to manage the book with a master document, rather than keeping the book in a single file. A master document enables you to quickly apply formatting changes to a large document or to jump to each subdocument for editing.

A master document is a Writer document that serves as a container for multiple Writer files. You can maintain chapters or other subdocuments as individual files collected in the master document. Master documents are also useful if multiple users are working on a single document. You can separate each user’s section of the document into subdocuments collected in a master document, allowing multiple writers to work on their subdocuments at the same time without fear of overwriting others' work.

Procedure 2.1. Creating a Master Document

  1. Click New+Master Document.

    or

    Open an existing document and click File+Send+Create Master Document.

  2. Select Insert in the navigator window and hold the button.

  3. Move the mouse to File and release the mouse button.

  4. Select a file to add an existing file to the master document.

To create and add a new document to the master document, choose Insert+New Document. The new file opens in another OpenOffice.org Writer window. The content of the file will be integrated in the master document. To save the file as part of the master document, switch back to the master, enter the filename into the open file menu and click OK.

To enter some text directly into the master document, select Insert+Text.

The OpenOffice.org help files contain more complete information about working with master documents. Look for the topic entitled Using Master Documents and Subdocuments .

[Tip]Styles and Templates in Master Documents

The styles from all of your subdocuments are imported into the master document. To ensure that formatting is consistent throughout your master document, you should use the same template for each subdocument. Doing so is not mandatory. However, if subdocuments are formatted differently, you might need to do some reformatting to successfully bring subdocuments into the master document without creating inconsistencies. For example, if two documents imported into your master document include different styles with the same name, the master document will use the formatting specified for that style in the first document you import.