Insert Text

Insert Text is an MS Word alternative to the Master document method of compiling your thesis.

Follow the instructions to combine your separate chapters, reference list, appendices and preliminary pages into a single document, prior to printing.

Begin by moving all chapters, appendices, reference list and preliminary pages into a new folder labelled Thesis.

• Create thesis main body in Word 97-2003
• Create thesis main body in Word 2007
• Insert preliminary pages

Create thesis main body in Word 97-2003

Follow these instructions to create the main body of your thesis, containing your chapters, reference list and appendices.

1. Open chapter 1 of your thesis
2. Select File > Save As
3. Name the new file Thesis final
4. Select the folder Thesis
5. Click on Save (the last four steps create and save the final version of your thesis)
6. Place the cursor after the last line of the open document
7. Go to Insert > File (a dialog box will open)
8. Find and open your Thesis folder
9. Click on chapter 2
   (chapter 2 will be inserted after chapter 1 on an automatic new page –
   page numbers will also be updated)
10. Click on Insert
11. Place the cursor after the last line of Thesis final
12. Repeat steps 6 to 10 to insert chapter 3
    (chapter 3 will be inserted after chapter 2 on an automatic new page)
13. Go to File > Save
14. Repeat the above sequence for each separate chapter, your reference list and appendices in that order

The text of your thesis with its reference list and appendices is now a single document. The next step is to insert the preliminary pages.

Create thesis main body in Word 2007

1. Open chapter 1 of your thesis
2. Select Office Button > Save As
3. Name the new file Thesis final
4. Select the folder Thesis
5. Click on Save (the last four steps create and save the final version of your thesis)
6. Place the cursor after the last line of the open document
7. Go to Insert tab > Text group > Object (open down arrow to right) > Text from File (click once on image at right to view this sequence)
8. From the Insert File dialog box that opens, find and open your Thesis folder
9. Click on chapter 2
   (chapter 2 will be inserted after chapter 1 on an automatic new page –
   page numbers will also be updated)
10. Click on Insert (lower right corner)
11. Place the cursor after the last line of Thesis final
12. Repeat steps 6 to 10 to insert chapter 3
    (chapter 3 will be inserted after chapter 2 on an automatic new page)
13. Go to Office Button > Save
14. Repeat the above sequence for each separate chapter, your reference list and appendices in that order

The text of your thesis with its reference list and appendices is now a single document. The next step is to insert the preliminary pages.

Insert preliminary pages

1. Place the cursor on the blank page 1 at the end of Thesis preliminary pages
2. Go to File > Insert
3. Find the Thesis folder
4. Click on Thesis final
5. Click on Insert
6. Click on File > Save As
7. Open the Thesis folder
8. Name the document Thesis final
9. Click on Save

Your Thesis final document is now saved in your Thesis folder with the partially completed preliminary pages attached at the beginning.

The preliminary pages should still have Roman numerals while the chapters retain conventional numerals.

The next step is to complete the Contents page

Image courtesy of City of Bellflower, CA 90706