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Using Multiple Documents to Create a Master Document in Word

Master documents provide structural coherence to several individual files

By Martin Hendrikx Martin Hendrikx Writer Galen University Martin Hendrikx is a former Lifewire writer and an instructor with a background in technology whose work has been published by How-To Geek and other outlets. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 4, 2020 Tweet Share Email Andy Roberts / Getty Images Tweet Share Email MS Office Word Excel Powerpoint Outlook When you must combine several documents but don’t want to go through the hassle of merging them manually and consolidating the formatting, why not create a single master document? The master document feature handles page numbers, the index, and the table of contents. This procedure applies to Word 2019, 2016, and Word for Microsoft 365.

What Is a Master File

A master file shows the links for individual Word files. The content of these subdocuments isn’t in the master document, only the links to them are. This means that editing the subdocuments is easy because you can do it on an individual basis without disrupting the other documents. Plus, edits made to separate documents will automatically be updated in the master document. Even if more than one person is working on the document, you can send various parts of it to various people through the master document.

How to Create a Master Document

Follow this procedure to create a new master document: Create a new document, then save it — even though it's still empty. Open Outline view by selecting the View menu then, from the Views group, selecting Outline. Select the Show Document option from the Master Document group. This option adds several additional buttons to this group. Select Insert and then select a subdocument. Address individual warnings as they arise. For example, identical style names between the master document and the subdocument prompt an option to rename the styles in the subdocument. Add additional subdocuments. The order matters; the master document displays the subdocuments in the order you add them.

Tips for Master Documents

Use a master document to provide some sort of structural framework for the final product — common headers and a table of contents, for example. The subdocuments generally retain their original formatting unless you override it in the master document. The best use case for master documents is probably book publishing. Instead of one large 1,000-page file with your massive space opera, write each chapter or part in a separate file and condense them into a single file using a master document. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Insert a Document in Word How to Make Flashcards on Word How to Insert a PDF Into Word What Is a PDF File? (And How to Open One) How to Hyperlink in Word Documents How to Insert Source Code Into a Word Document How to Insert Comments in Word How to Email a Google Doc How to Insert a Page Break in Word How to Convert a Word Document to JPG How to Create a Report in Excel How to Merge Two or More Microsoft Word Documents The 4 Best Free Text Editors for Windows & Mac How to Create Your Own Certificates With Word Templates How to Turn a PDF into a Word Document How to Convert a Word Document to HTML Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies