I use word97 for preparing mixed text and graphic files, which are then printed to pdf for Internet publishing.
The doc files remain in archive to permit possible changes and corrections of the published files, when necessary.
Usually I prepare the graphics in Word and then I add the text in “text boxes”. There is also need sometimes to clean, reverse etc the graphics. As result the .doc files may have a very large volume when finally saved for the archive, as the changes and corrections remain probably embedded and hidden in the file.
I can sometimes reduce significantly the file size by copying it under another name, but this doesn’t work always and the word file remains much larger than necessary.
What can be done? What is the best way to remove the unnecessary bites from the file? Where ate they stored?
Please advise.
thanks

First off, can you get your hands on a newer version of word? Office 97 is 3 versions old. Oh just saw that your system is 98. If you can get your hands on it I think that 2000 can work on it.

The only way to decrease the files size is to decrease the dimensions of the picture. Word can't display the full size of the pic if it is a big one however it doesn't actually decrease the dimensions of the pic, it just changes the size of it that is displayed. Does that make sense? I don't know what to tell you to use. MS Paint doesn't do that & I don't know what will work on 98. Search for something on google. Also if the file isn't a .jpg/.jpeg file (they are the same) but something else like a .bmp or .tiff you can use paint to change it to a jpeg file. Open the pic up in paint, choose "save as" under the file menu, then click on the pull down menu besides save as file type & choose JPEG. The files size of the picture is smaller because it is compressed but the dimensions aren't smaller so the word file size could still be pretty large, but it should help some. That will work for any files you create in the future but you will have to have the original picture file to change any existing files. Resize each pic & recopy it into your word files. Hope this helps.

Thank you. You are absolutely right. But..
Yes, my very old offline computer operates on Win98se, but I have in my office a newer one working on XP and I still cannot discover the great advantage of this OS over the 98, except perhaps in surfing the Internet.
And yes, I work with Office97. About twenty five years of working on computers taught me that “the best program is the one which you know best.” I tried to work with Word 2000 and 2003 but I found that with a lot of graphics the Word97 is much simpler, quicker and lighter for work than the more sophisticated ones.
Besides at 85 is a little hard to master a new tool.
As to the file volume – I found often that the original volume of graphics and text together is sometimes only 25-30% of the finished file. The file inflation is due to the various corrections in editing, exchange of graphics etc, which are deleted from screen but remain embedded somewhere in the file. This is what I try to get rid off.
Thank you for your comments.

If it works for you & can do everything that you need it to, then ok.
Try clicking on the tools menu, track changes, & then , highlight changes. It has been quite some time since I used office 97 so I don't know if it is there but if it is it might be your problem. In 2000 & newer versions your can have word track & highlight any changes that you make so that anything deleted isn't really deleted. If this is turned on (just not displayed) then turning it off might save some space. In 2000 to turn it off you go to that menu & uncheck "track changes while editing". However with personal experience I only know of word document files being very large if it is either very long or contain extremely large pictures even if they don't seem to be large. If this doesn't help then I don't know what to tell you.

On a side note, how are you finding out how large your files are? What is about the typical file size for you? What might seem large to you, might just be normal for word documents.

no, the "track changes" didn't help, but never mind. I have enough space on my HD to save large files.
as to your question how I find it - I work with the Total Commander, an extremly useful (for me) program which displays the file size. The file which troubled me was about 18 Mb in Word and only less than 2Mb when printed to pdf. I will try to re-do it when I find more time.
thank you

So this is just one file? If it isn't the picture size & tracking is turned off then I don't know. 18 mb is large for word doc file. I still think that it is the pictures. Try creating a copy of the file by clicking once on the file, hitting ctrl & c at the same file, & then ctrl & v at the same time. The new file should say copy of whatever it is called.doc. Open this file & delete all of the pictures & then save the file. Now look at what the file size is.

I don't know anything about total commander. Try having windows tell you what it is. Click once on the file & then right click with the mouse. A menu should pop up. Click on properties. Here you can see what the size is.

I tried already to copy and paste the file, but it is probably to large for the memory and it doesn't work.
As i said - never mind. i will not bother with this issue for the time being.
The 2 Mb pdf file size is good enough to put it on the Web, and that's what is important.
BTW - Total Commander is an appliance similar to the Norton Commander from the early computers and very helpful for managing the files.

I just thought that an abnormally large file might have a virus, but of course any file could. If you want to know for sure, try posting a new thread in their viruses & spyware section because I can't help you on that & they won't help you here on that.

I prepare the graphics in Word and then I add the text in “text boxes”. There is also need sometimes to clean, reverse etc the graphics. As result the .doc files may have a very large volume when finally saved for the archive, as the changes and corrections remain probably embedded and hidden in the file.