Trouble combining multiple Word docs into single doc

[dnjnyc]

I am running Snow Leopard and Word 2008. I have 8 separate Word files that I need to combine into a single Word file. I've tried the Insert-->File command, and the Merge files command. Each time, though, the formatting goes to hell. It would take forever to fix, and I'm pressed for time.

Is there a way to fix this? I don't know the Styles concept well, but I suspect the trouble is there. Perhaps all the docs' Styles need to be made the same first? I really don't know. Also I've tried Section and Page breaks in the imported docs, but the same mess happens.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance...

 

[miles01110]

Copy/paste?

 

[dnjnyc]

Oh, thanks. I forgot to say, I also tried good old copy and paste, doc by doc -- same awful results. Footnotes were suddenly huge (some, not all), footnote numbers not superscript anymore (text and notes), fonts randomly changed, tables scrambled, etc. It's mind-boggling.

And yes, I Googled till 2 in the morning before I posted. Does anyone know the deeper mysteries of Word??

 

[miles01110]

Did you try the "Paste Special" options that attempt to keep the formatting? It doesn't work every time, but sometimes it's better than the standard Paste.

 

[dnjnyc]

Will try. Thanks.