WD: Change in Document File Size Is More or Less Than Expected

• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 5.0, 5.1
• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

Sometimes the file size of your Word document changes substantially (increases or decreases), even if you make only minor revisions to the document. Moreover, the file size sometimes remains constant, even though you made changes in the document.

CAUSE

The file size of your Word document may increase unexpectedly if the Allow Fast Saves option is turned on. A fast save appends the changes to the end of your document, which increases the size of the document. By contrast, when you turn off the Allow Fast Saves option and save the document, Word performs a full save, which incorporates all your revisions (instead of appending them). If you perform a full save after a file was fast saved, Word reduces the size of the file.

Even with the Allow Fast Saves option turned on, Word periodically performs a full save of your document. As a result, the file size of your document may change substantially between save operations.

NOTE: If you open a document from a previous version of Word, Word may temporarily allocate more disk space for the document than is actually necessary.

MORE INFORMATION

To disable the Fast Save feature, use the procedure appropriate for you version of Word.

Word version 6.x (Windows and Macintosh), 7.x (Windows), 97 (Windows)

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

2. Click the Save tab.

3. Click to clear the Allow Fast Saves check box.

Word 5.x (Macintosh)

1. On the Tools menu, click Preferences.

2. Click the Open And Save icon.

3. Click to clear the Allow Fast Saves check box. (By default, this option is on.)

Word 4.0 (Macintosh)

1. On the Edit menu, click Commands.

2. Highlight Fast Save Enabled in the list of commands.

3. Click the Add button. The option has been added to the Edit menu.

4. Click Cancel.

5. On the Edit menu, click to clear the Fast Save Enabled check box.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, pages 483-485

"Microsoft Word User's Reference," version 4.0, page 312

"Microsoft Word User's Reference," version 3.0 page 311