WD2000: Error Message: "The subdocument ... is missing" (211738)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q211738

SYMPTOMS

When you try to expand the subdocuments contained in a master document, the following error message appears:
The subdocument c:\<foldername>\<filename> is missing. Do you want to expand the master document without this subdocument?
If you click No, Word cancels the operation and does not expand the subdocuments. If you click Yes, Word expands all of the subdocuments except the missing subdocument.

CAUSE

Word cannot find the subdocument if any of the following is true:
  • You move the subdocument to a different location relative to the master document,
  • The subdocument is located on a network drive that is no longer valid.
  • You delete or rename the subdocument file.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, reinsert the missing subdocument. To do this, click the Insert Subdocument button on the Master Document toolbar to locate and reinsert the missing subdocument.

RESOLUTION

If you want to rename a subdocument or move a subdocument to a new location relative to the master document, do the following:

NOTE: Do not use Windows Explorer, Windows NT File Manager, or MS-DOS to rename or move a subdocument. If you do, the master document will no longer be able to find or recognize the subdocument. Instead, use the following procedure.
  1. Display the master document in outline view. To do this, click Outline on the View menu.
  2. On the Outline toolbar, click Collapse subdocuments.
  3. Click the hyperlink of the subdocument you want to rename.
  4. On the File menu, click Save As.
  5. Enter a new file name or location for the subdocument, and then click Save.
  6. To close the subdocument and return to the master document, click Close on the File menu.
  7. Save and close the master document.
NOTE: When you rename a subdocument, the previous version of the subdocument file remains in its original location. If you want, you can delete this subdocument file.

MORE INFORMATION

When you move a master document, Word automatically searches for the subdocuments in a way that is relative to the master document. This feature makes it easy for you to move an entire master document directory tree while preserving the subdocument references.

When you open a master document, Word searches for the 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 as the new master document location.

For example, if your original master document and subdocuments were saved in the following folders: 

Master document:     C:\Word 97\Master

Subdocuments:        C:\Word 97\Master\Subdocs

and you move the master document to

F:\Catalog\1993

when you open the master document from the new location, Word automatically searches the following folder for the master document's subdocuments:

F:\Catalog\1993\Subdocs

If the subdocuments are not found, Word searches the subdocuments' original location:

C:\Word 97\Master\Subdocs

If Word cannot find the subdocuments in the relative location, it searches in the original subdocument location (in this case, C:\Word 97\Master\Subdocs). If Word still cannot find the subdocuments, the "The subdocument is missing..." error message appears.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/6/2000
Keywords:kbprb KB211738
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