Why do Word 2002 formatted files grow so large in file size?

I've found that a 30-page file of mostly text and tables
(using a Word 2002 Templates and Styles) can be 12+MB
whereas the same file, saved as Word 6.0/95 is less than
1MB. I understand it has something to do with the way Word
2002 handles formatting, but how can I restream my 2002
file to reduce the behind-the-scenes overhead without
saving my file as a backwards version?

Try saving to a new name, or copying all the contents into a new file. Try
saving as RTF, close, and reopen and save as a doc again (this usually works
well and fast).
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Hope this helps!
Anne Troy (better known as Dreamboat)
Web: www.VBAExpress.com
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"Dawn Rose" wrote in message
...
I've found that a 30-page file of mostly text and tables
(using a Word 2002 Templates and Styles) can be 12+MB
whereas the same file, saved as Word 6.0/95 is less than
1MB. I understand it has something to do with the way Word
2002 handles formatting, but how can I restream my 2002
file to reduce the behind-the-scenes overhead without
saving my file as a backwards version?

Hi Dawn

This is an unusually large file size - the times I have seen this degree of
bloat recently it's always been that someone has inserted bitmaps as
objects. This is a seriously bad idea, but if bitmaps are associated with
(IRC) Microsoft Photo Editor it seems it may happen 'by accident'.

Do make sure you have 'Fast Saves' turned off too - it's the default now,
but wasn't in some older versions of Word.

And never use Word versions.

If none of these, the file may be corrupt - a trip out to HTML and back
should fix.

--
Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP
Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org

"Dawn Rose" wrote in message
...
I've found that a 30-page file of mostly text and tables
(using a Word 2002 Templates and Styles) can be 12+MB
whereas the same file, saved as Word 6.0/95 is less than
1MB. I understand it has something to do with the way Word
2002 handles formatting, but how can I restream my 2002
file to reduce the behind-the-scenes overhead without
saving my file as a backwards version?