Create and Manage Master Documents and Subdocuments

In Microsoft Word, you can create a master document that contains links to several subdocuments. This can be useful when working on large documents or projects that require input from multiple authors. Here are the steps to create and manage master documents and subdocuments:

Create a new document: Open Microsoft Word and create a new document.

Save the document: Save the new document with a name that identifies it as the master document.

Create subdocuments: Create separate documents for each chapter or section of your document.

Save subdocuments: Save each subdocument with a name that identifies it as a subdocument.

Link subdocuments to the master document: Open the master document, and place the cursor where you want to insert a subdocument.

Insert a subdocument: Click on the “Insert” tab in the ribbon, then click “Object” in the “Text” group. In the “Object” dialog box, select the “Create from File” tab, click “Browse,” and select the subdocument you want to insert. Check the “Link to File” option to create a link to the subdocument, then click “OK.”

Repeat for each subdocument: Repeat steps 5 and 6 for each subdocument you want to link to the master document.

Edit subdocuments: To edit a subdocument, double-click the subdocument link in the master document. The subdocument will open in a separate window, and you can make changes to it.

Update subdocuments: To update a subdocument, save the changes you made to the subdocument, then return to the master document and click “Update” in the “Links” group on the “References” tab.

Manage subdocuments: You can manage subdocuments by clicking “Subdocuments” in the “Master Document” group on the “Outlining” tab. From there, you can create, remove, or rearrange subdocuments in the master document.

Save the master document: When you have finished linking and arranging your subdocuments, save the master document.