• First write your opus on your PC.
  It is probably best to keep all files together in one directory (named perhaps OPUS007 if this were your seventh work).

  Create these directories either by using Windows File Manager, or some word processing programs (eg Wordperfect 6) allow you do this from inside them.

  and name the files to represent the chapter number (e.g. chapter one in 01.DOC, chapter two in 02.DOC).

  if you keep your unfinished notes, paragraphs and other work in hand in files whose names begin A-Z (eg THEKILL.DOC, MOLLIE.DOC, PLOT.DOC), their names will list out after your chapter files (01.DOC), and you may be able to discriminate better between what is completed and what is work in hand.

When you are ready, create a master document to join these together.

• A master document is a small file which stays small until you tell it to expand, pulling in your existing files/chapters/documents. This saves space and allows you to make global changes through all your files.
  You then have no problems with page numbering or standardised fonts and layouts because these are taken from the Master Document..

In WORDPERFECT 6

• From the FILE menu choose MASTER DOCUMENT
  Choose SUBDOCUMENT

  Select the file you want (ie the first will be 01.DOC)

  Select the next file (ie 02.DOC) and then the next (ie 03.DOC)

  When you have selected all your chapter files as sub-documents save the document -

  I suggest as 00.DOC - with this number it appears before the others when you list

LOTUS AMIPRO

• is very similar (and offers index and Table of Contents building)

In MS WORD 97 (Word 6 is similar)

• Click on VIEW
  Choose MASTER DOCUMENT

  A new line of icons appears. Go to this new line

  If the right-most icon is MASTER DOCUMENT VIEW then click it, and more icons will appear to the right

  Move along the icons and click on INSERT SUBDOCUMENT

  The selection box will now allow you to choose your file

  You will now start to select the documents which Master document is going to collate

  This will appear as something like "C\WORK01\01.DOC", or as the first line of your text

  The documents may appear expanded, but you can switch this off with SHOW FIRST LINE ONLY

  Click on INSERT SUBDOCUMENT and choose your next file

  This will appear as something like "C\WORK01\02.DOC", or as the first line of your text

  Continue to add files into your master document

  Then save your master document (perhaps as 00.DOC)

Then in all cases

• When you open 00.DOC you will see the file names highlighted in your document
  Use the option to EXPAND - all the contents of your files will then fill out.

  You can use Search and Replace options to change names etc.

  If you have replaced names throughout, you then use the SHRINK option to close the sub-documents with their changes.

  Normally when you have use d the Expand option you will quit from the master document without saving it.

General Suggestions:

• Set your ruler width, font, headers, footers etc and any special features of the layout in the Master Document.
• Put the title page and acknowledgements in the master document,
  remember to put a page break between each sub-document.

  Add a final page break after the last sub-document, and perhaps the words "The End"

Good Practice:

• Try this first by creating a couple of small files as your chapters with just some "The quick brown fox ... " text in each
• Include some words which are common to all your files, and other words which are different
• Then create your first master document in pull in your trial files
• Practice exiting from your master document
• View your individual chapters after exiting the master document.
• Expand in the master document, and then search and replace text
• SHRINK the sub-documents so that the changes are stored in the individual files
• Now close the master document completely, and look at your individual files to see how your changes have taken effect.
• Remember, although the on-line help and the manuals were written by aliens who have only just grasped the concept of carbon based life, the truth is out there (and within you).
• Always remember, regardless of whether your are working with master documents or not, to take regular copies of work, from disk to another disk.