How can I stop repagination?

Question

This is a chronic problem that becomes egregious when working with documents of +100 pages. The constant background repagination slows the work to a crawl. Proposed solutions such as "use draft view" or get more RAM are neither acceptable answers nor do they solve the problem. The problem is that Microsoft is failing to properly address this. To put these proposed solutions in an analagous framework, pretend you have a pickup truck (your computer) pulling a trailer (your software), carrying a boat (your file). You can't make progress because a metal beam protrudes from the trailer into the gound. So if a mechanic suggests "remove some of your load from the trailer", you counter, "I can't. It's a boat. I can't cut it in half". So then the mechanic offers, "get a more powerful truck" to which you counter, the truck is fine. The problem is with the trailer. So my question to MS, how do you propose to fix the effing trailer?

Answer 1

To address the issue of repagination in Microsoft Word, especially with large documents, there are a few strategies you can consider:

1. Disable Background Repagination: Unfortunately, there isn't a direct setting to completely disable repagination in Word. However, you can try to minimize its impact by using simpler formatting and reducing the complexity of your document.
2. Optimize Document Structure: Break down your document into smaller sections or chapters. This can help reduce the load on Word when it comes to rendering and paginating the document.
3. Use Different Views: While you mentioned that solutions like using draft view are not acceptable, it's worth noting that switching to a different view can sometimes help improve performance temporarily, even if it doesn't solve the underlying issue.
4. Check for Add-ins: Sometimes, third-party add-ins can interfere with Word's performance. Disabling unnecessary add-ins may help improve the overall responsiveness of the application.
5. Update Word: Ensure that you are using the latest version of Microsoft Word, as updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes that could alleviate issues like repagination.
6. Consider Document Format: If your document is heavily formatted, consider simplifying the formatting or converting it to a different format that may be less demanding on Word's resources.

While these suggestions may not completely eliminate the problem, they can help mitigate the impact of repagination on your workflow.

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References:

• Troubleshoot problems that occur when you start or use Word
• Performance recommendations for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10

Answer 2

You are not talking or writing to anyone at MS who can make changes to Word or fix this. You are corresponding here with your fellow users. You can reach those decision makers using the Feedback mechanisms.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/giving-feedback-on-microsoft-word-or-other/8df81a9b-84aa-46ef-bf88-24fb7fec96ba

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That said, you can find suggestions here. One hundred pages is not all that big a document, but how the document is structured matters. Here is an Article I wrote for the Microsoft Answers site on dealing with larger documents. https://addbalance.com/articles/Managing%20Large%20Word%20Files%20and%20Combining%20Documents%20Into%20One%20File%20In%20Microsoft%20Word.htm

I am unsure why "use draft view" is not an answer. This does speed up Word. When in draft view you can turn off background repagination.