WD97: Error Message: "The subdocument ... is missing"

MORE INFORMATION

If you want to move subdocuments to a new location relative to the master document, refer to the instructions in the "Rename a subdocument" topic in Word Help.

When you move a master document, Word automatically searches 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.

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 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 97\MASTER          F:\CATALOG\1993
   Subdocuments   C:\WORD 97\MASTER\SUBDOCS  F:\CATALOG\1993\SUBDOCS

                                               -then-

                                              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 subdocument, the "The subdocument is missing..." error message appears.