Amy,

I tend to work on projects that can get complex too. I usually create a 
folder for each project and put lots of individual files into that 
folder. Once the files and the project in general start taking shape, I 
can insert the text of a file into another file. To insert the text of 
one file into another, open the first file, move the cursor to the place 
where you want the text of the second file to appear, go into the Insert 
tab, choose Object (I think), then choose Text from File. I think the 
key sequence is alt+n followed by j, x.

I also sometimes use headings to organize and develop large projects.

* Heading 1 may be something comparable to a chapter. Heading 2 may be a 
section. Heading 3 may be an example. Etc. To create headings, highlight 
the text, and press alt+ctrl+1, alt+ctrl+2, alt+ctrl+3 and so on for 
heading levels 1, 2, 3, etc.

* Whether I have a few lines or a few pages worth of material in each 
section, I like to insert a page break (ctrl+enter) so I have the option 
of using the page-up/down commands to move through my document 
(ctrl+pg-up/dn).

* You can use Jaws quick navigation commands to jump to headings and so 
on as you would on a web page. ins+z toggles quick navigation mode. Then 
you would hit H to jump to a heading, T to jump to a table, G to jump to 
a graphic, and so on.

* In Word 2013 (not sure about earlier versions), you can move through 
headings by pressing ctrl+f, then tabbing through the headings and 
pressing enter. Hmm, I may be skipping a step there.

* I have a chaotic system of markers that I use to find things quickly. 
For example, I type an asterisk at the end of each section. The pound 
sign means I need to do more research about this. Braces enclose notes 
to self (e.g., "it may help to explain X concept here" or "This section 
should probably be merged with that other section"). Brackets enclose 
reminders about specific things I need to do (e.g., "Add example of X 
here," "Insert table comparing A and B," "Summarize article on Y'). Then 
I use the find command to search for the asterisk, number sign, left 
brace, or left bracket.

Not sure how helpful this is.

Ciao


    VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
Archived on the World Wide Web at
    http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
    Signoff: [log in to unmask]
    Subscribe: [log in to unmask]