I posted instructions to Create Hover (Hidden) Messages in Word (#2399450) and one reader asked if there was a way to exceed the 250 character limit of the Tool Tip of the AutoTextList Field function. While you can’t exceed that 250 character limit you can achieve that out of sight additional information (including photos, diagrams, screenshots, or even videos) using the Linked Appendix method in the attached PDF.
The instructions refer to editing the format of Hyperlinks in a Word document, Change How Links Appear in Word Documents, which I will post those instructions in a separate posting.
As an extra tip for utilizing the Linked Appendix method I will post in a separate posting (View Location of Bookmarks in a Word Document) my simple macro to switch between hiding (default setting) where the Bookmarks are in a document to showing where they are and back to hiding them.
These instructions and this method of writing may not appeal to everyone, but I used it writing highly technical manuals and FDA/TJC software validation records with great success. It does break away from having diagrams, charts, tables, photos, screenshots, and other additional information with the text; but, in some situations, keeping the text of the instructions or explanation together and unbroken from line to line does increase the reader’s comprehension; and does create a go to source to refresh the reader’s memory of a set of instructions.
Linked-Appendix-in-a-Word-Document
HTH, Dana:))
