Microsoft KB Archive/105550

= WD: Error Message: "The Subdocument Is Missing..." =

Article ID: 105550

Article Last Modified on 8/16/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 6.0a
 * Microsoft Word 6.0c
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95a

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This article was previously published under Q105550



Word 98
When you try to expand the subdocuments, the following error message occurs:

The subdocument c:\ \ is missing. Do you want to expand the master document without this subdocument?

Word 6.x, 7.0
The subdocument is missing. Do you want to open the master document without the subdocument?

If you click No, Word cancels the operation and does not open the master document. If you click Yes, Word opens the master document without the missing subdocument. You can then use the Insert Subdocument button on the Master Document toolbar to locate and reinsert the missing subdocument.

CASE 1
CAUSE         Word cannot find the subdocument if you move it to a               different location relative to the master document, if the subdocument is located on a network drive that is no longer valid, or if you delete the subdocument file.

RESOLUTION    If you want to move subdocuments to a new location relative to the master document, refer to the instructions in the "Rename a subdocument" (Word 98 and Word 7) topic or the "Renaming or removing a subdocument" (Word 6) topic in Word Help, or see your printed Word documentation.

STATUS        When you move a master document, Word will automatically search for the subdocuments in a manner that is relative to the master document. This feature, which is by design, makes it easy for you to move an entire master document directory tree while preserving the subdocument references. MORE          When you open a master document, Word searches for the INFORMATION   subdocuments relative to the master document. In other words, if the subdocuments are in a subdirectory of the master document directory, Word looks for the subdocuments in the same subdirectory of the new master document location. The following table illustrates this search pattern.

If the former              Then Word automatically location is                searches here ---     Master         C:\WORD 6.0\MASTER          F:\CATALOG\1993 Subdocuments  C:\WORD 6.0\MASTER\SUBDOCS  F:\CATALOG\1993\SUBDOCS

-then-

C:\WORD6.0\MASTER\SUBDOCS

If Word cannot find the subdocuments in the relative location, it searches in the original subdocument location (in this case, C:\WORD 6.0\MASTER\SUBDOCS). If Word still cannot find the subdocument, the "The subdocument is              missing..." error message occurs.

CASE 2
CAUSE         This error can occur if you try to open a master document that has too many subdocuments, if you have other files open and/or other applications running, or if a large, complex master document was originally created on a              workstation running Windows NT and the current workstation is running Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups 3.1 or              3.11.

WORKAROUNDS   There are several workarounds that can allow you to               successfully open the master document, provided that the subdocument files in question still exist.

Method 1: Close all other open files and other applications that are currently running before attempting to open the master document.

Method 2: Open the master document on a workstation with Windows NT or Windows 95 running.

Method 3: If Windows NT or Windows 95 is not available, choose "Yes" to the error message and finish opening the master document. Simplify the master document by combining subdocuments until there are fewer than 20 subdocuments, then insert the missing subdocuments using the Insert Subdocument tool on the Master Document toolbar.

This should allow the master document and subdocuments to be saved and reopened without generating an error.

STATUS        Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem with Word versions 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0c for Windows. This problem was corrected in Word version 7.0 for Windows 95. MORE          If Word is running on a workstation operating under INFORMATION   Windows NT or Windows 95, it is possible to build a               master document that has many more subdocuments than is               possible on a workstation that is operating under Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups. If this complex master document is then opened by a workstation operating on              Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups, then the "The               subdocument is missing..." error occurs. This is due to              Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups running out of               available file handles before it can completely open the document. Under these conditions, the subdocuments are still there and intact, but Word cannot access them and the above error message is generated.

