File Conversions (MS Word 2003 to ASSTR Format)
The following was prepared as instructions to myself
to guide me through the conversion of files stored as
*.doc format, and that I wanted to publish on the
ASSTR site on the Internet. It takes into account the
various systems and screen sizes that may access the
file, and ensures that it can be read comfortably.
Comments are added to this for your edification,
should you not be familiar with any given practice.
Hope it is useful.
First time only, I have so many files that I created
three new folders. What follows presumes their
existence, but the instructions may be modified based
on how you organize your files.
1. Create a file folder named 'Reformat'. (the files
being worked on at this time)
2. Create a file folder named 'Upload'. (the
modified files ready to upload)
3. Create a file folder named 'ASSTR'. (the files
as they are in my directory on ASSTR).
The following is the main purpose of this document.
1. Copy the file(s) that are to be converted from
their usual place. Leave the original in tact
where it is for your future use. Place the
copy(s) in the Reformat folder.
2. Open the *.doc file in the Reformat folder into
Word.
3. Remove any footer (such as Page #).
4. Highlight any header data (e.g. Story Name) and
delete (CTRL + X). Close the header, and go to
the beginning of the document (CTRL + Home).
Paste the deleted information (CTRL + V).
5. Edit this data into the subject line for ASSTR.
i.e. {ASS} Story_Name version ## /total chapters
(or ?? if unknown) {Your Name} (story
classification codes applicable to the story).
Note the type of bracket or parentheses used is a
site standard. A repost should have 'RP' before
the Story Name or 'Rev' if a revision.
6. Personal Preference - Insert a disclaimer about
who should or should not read, and capsulate a
brief description of the content to provide a
good summary suitable to being used on some
websites.
7. When I write a story, I use a style that has an
extra 3 point blank space before the next
paragraph, and gives a first line indent. It is
therefore necessary for me to go through the
document, and insert a blank line between
paragraphs to retain the separation required for
easy reading in the Internet format. You do not
need to remove any indents at this time (if you
have them in your format).
8. From the File menu, select 'Page Set Up'. On the
Margins tab, change the right margin to 1.75",
and then close this window with 'OK'.
9. Select all text (CTRL + A) and change the style
back to 'Normal' (top left of your formatting
toolbar). Change the font (next on the same
toolbar) to Courier New. Change the size (next
on the same toolbar) to 12 (pitch).
10. From the File menu, select 'Save As'.
Change the name of your file to remove any
special characters (such as an ampersand &, etc.)
and replace any spaces with the underscore _
character. Change the 'Save as type' to 'Plain
Text (*.txt). Click Save to bring up the File
Conversion Window.
11. Click on 'Other Encoding' and select 'US-
ASCII in the adjacent window. Check 'Insert line
breaks' and ensure the 'End Line with' shows
CR/LF (Carriage Return / Line Feed). Check
'Allow character substitutions', and click 'OK'.
12. When all (file) conversions have been done,
close word, and use Explorer (WIN + E) to locate
and move the files from 'Reformat' to 'Upload'.
13. Delete the extra copy of the duplicated
*.doc file.
14. Log into ASSTR, and upload your new
publications.
Note: if the subject line truncates (splits), I
recommend that the line length be extended for the one
line so it will be contiguous. Look at any of the
stories in my directory (Authors/Mr_Ed) to see an
example.
Mr. Ed