WD: How to Insert a File and Retain Its Margins

ID: Q154897

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you insert one document (source) into another document (destination) that contains different formatting, the formatting of the source document takes on the formatting of the destination document. Document layout formatting (such as margin settings, headers and footers, and page orientation) take on the formatting of the destination document, even when you insert a section break before you insert the source document.

WORKAROUND

In order to retain document settings of an inserted file, additional formatting must be added to both the source and destination documents. In the source document, you must insert a continuous section break at the bottom of your source document in order to retain the document settings when the source document is inserted into a different (destination) document. In the destination document, you must add a Next Page section break to isolate the inserted file from the rest of the destination document.

Source Document

Use the following steps to insert a continuous section break in the source document:

1. Open the document that will be inserted (source).

2. Press CTRL+END (COMMAND+END on the Macintosh) to place your insertion

   point at the end of the source document.

3. On the Insert menu, click Break.

4. Under Section Breaks, click to select Continuous and then click OK.

Destination Document

Use either of the following methods in the destination document:

Method 1: Use If the Source Document Contains Headers or Footers

   1. Position the insertion point at the end of the destination document.

   2. On the Insert menu, click Break, choose Next Page under Section
      Breaks, and then click OK.

   3. Move the insertion point to the end of the document. To do this
      quickly in Windows, press CTRL+END. On the Macintosh, press
      COMMAND+END.

   4. On the View Menu, click Header And Footer.

   5. Click the Same As Previous button on the Header And Footer toolbar to
      deactivate (turn off) this setting for both the Header and the
      Footer.

      NOTE: This option disconnects the section from previous sections but
      does not disconnect it from subsequent sections.

   6. Click the Close button on the Header and Footer Toolbar.

   7. Use either of the following methods:

      - On the Insert Menu, click File. Locate the file you want to insert,
        and then click OK.

        NOTE: You can select the Link to File check box to create an
        IncludeText field or clear this option if you just want to insert
        the other document.

        -or-

     - On the Insert Menu, click Field. From the Field Names list, select
       the  IncludeText field. In the Field Codes box, type the full path
       of the  source document (for example, c:\\winword\\mydoc.doc), and
       then click OK.

   The source document now retains its formatting when you insert it into
   the destination document.

Method 2: If the Source Document Does Not Contain Headers or Footers

   1. Position the insertion point at the end of the destination document.

   2. On the Insert menu, click Break, choose Next Page under Section
      Breaks, and then click OK.

   3. Move the insertion point to the end of the document. To do this
      quickly in Windows, press CTRL+END. On the Macintosh, press
      COMMAND+END.

   4. On the Insert Menu, click Field.

   5. From the Field Names list, select the IncludeText FIELD. In the Field
      Codes box, type the full path of the source document, and then click
      OK.

      For example, type in the full path to your source document as
      C:\\Winword\\Mydoc.doc (Windows) or Macintosh HD:Desktop:Mydoc
      (Macintosh).

   The source document now retains its formatting when you insert it into
   the destination document.

   NOTE: You can unlink the IncludeText field so that it is no longer a
   field, but actual text. To do this in Windows, select the field and then
   press CTRL+SHIFT+F9. On the Macintosh, use the COMMAND+SHIFT+F9.

Additional query words: inserting importing sections formatting changes different target margins dissimilar
Keywords          : wordnt kbfield winword ntword macword word6 word7 word95 
Version           : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a; WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: January 22, 1999