Why does adding endnotes in word-document slow down the program?

Question

I'm working on a text document (.docx) that consists of 314 pages with text only and about 1500 endnotes. The endnotes are divided into 4 sections.

A) Every time I add a new endnote Word slows down close to breakdown. It takes about 2-3 seconds between typing on the keyboard and the letters to appear on the screen. I have to close the program and open it again to get it in order.

B) Because of a messy formatting of the endnotes I have selected all endnotes and thereby formatted both endnote-references (number) and endnote-text into endnote-text. I do not know how to select all endnote-references only and format them seperately.

The problem might have originated because of me trying to be smart in the beginning by using LibreOffice and saving the document as docx. After having a bad experience there I started using Word. I tried to 'clean' the document by first saving it as .rtf, however the difficulties shown above did occure in .docx-format in Word.

Please help me!

Answer 1

In my experience, converted documents from any other program will always be problematic for editing. The conversion introduces formatting practices that are not native to Word with workarounds by the conversion process.

At this stage, fixing it is going to be a major project, I hope you have an assistant.

My recommendation would be to create a new Word document and paste the content from your existing one as plain text. This is going to mess up your endnote connections.

Then edit that document, doing your formatting using Styles, and re-add the endnotes, as Word endnotes. Make changes to how these look by modifying the Endnote text and Endnote reference styles.

This is a lot of work. You will also have to add any figures/illustrations back and caption them.

Do not allow any editing in the online or mobile versions of Word.

The Importance of Styles in Microsoft Word

Answer 2

Hi,

Thank you, but I do not understand what you mean by recreating of a couple of pages? Do you suggest that I manually write it anew? The problem occured first when the document had about 300 pages.

Regards

Bjoern in despair

Answer 3

Hi Bjoern in despair,

Thank you for your update.

Since you made the file on the LibreOffice, there is possible chance that it might be compatible issue. What we can do to further isolate you may try to recreate the file just atleast couple of pages to see if the issue persist.

Regards,
RichieB_

Answer 4

Hi RichieB_,

Greetings!

Thank you for your answer!

I am not using Libre office to save my document. In the start I used Libre Office, but have turned to Word after that.

I have tried to paste it into Word, but the described problems with the endnotes do persist I'm afraid.

Perhaps Word does not accept that many endnotes?

Do you know how I should manage to select and format the endnote-references (number) and endnote-text separately? Perhaps the App does not appreciate that both are formatted as endnote-reference (number)?

Thank you in advance!

Best regards

Answer 5

Hi Bjoern in despair,

Greetings!

Thank you for posting in the Microsoft Community.

We understand that you need help with your text document that you're working on the Word app.

Based on the information you provided there are few reason why you're experiencing that issue on the Word app.

First, Since you're using LibreOffice saving your document, it might be some of features of Libre Office are not available on Word Office app. Then next is it might be a performance issue, it might be the device can handle those data that was put in on the Word app because it's too many.

What I can suggest is try to recreate the entire document that you've created from the LibreOffice by copying the entire text and past it on the Word app. However, you can try doing it with few pages only like couple of pages to see if the issue persist.

I hope this information will help you. We look forward for your response.

Regards,
RichieB_
Microsoft Community Moderator