Combine or split subdocuments

If you do not see the subdocument icon , click Master Document View on the Outlining toolbar.

1. Move the subdocuments you want to combine so that they are next to one another.

   How?

   1. To select the subdocument you want to move, click its subdocument icon . To select multiple adjacent subdocuments, click the first icon, and then hold down SHIFT as you click the last icon in the group.
   2. Drag the subdocument icon to a new location.
2. Select the first subdocument you want to combine by clicking its subdocument icon .
3. Hold down SHIFT as you click the last subdocument icon in the group of subdocuments that you want to combine.
4. On the Outlining toolbar, click Merge Subdocument .

Notes

• When you save the master document, Microsoft Word saves the combined subdocuments with the file name of the first subdocument in the combination.
• When you combine subdocuments (for example, documents A, B, and C), the "uncombined" versions of the subdocument files (documents B and C) remain in their original location.

1. Create a heading for the new subdocument. Then apply a built-in heading style or outline level to the heading.

   How?

   • On the Outlining toolbar, click Promote to increase the heading level.
   • On the Outlining toolbar, click Demote to decrease the heading level.
2. Select the heading for the new subdocument.
3. On the Outlining toolbar, click Split Subdocument .

Notes

When you save the master document, Microsoft Word assigns a file name to the new subdocument based on the first characters in the subdocument's heading.

If you combine subdocuments and then split them back into separate documents, Word saves the split subdocument with a new file name.