Largish Word files lagging after the tiniest of edits

Post date: 2021-04-14 10:34:13

I do freelance copyediting, and I'm getting these problematic large Word files from one particular client (usually about 12MB or 400-500 pages). When I'm editing the downloaded file with Track Changes on, Word often stalls for about five seconds; the top bar grays out and says Not Responding, the fan comes on, and I can't do anything until it catches up.

These are academic and scholarly manuscripts with prodigious endnotes, and I suspect the files are loaded with macros (if that's the right word) for formatting, etc. It is hugely frustrating to type three characters or delete a comma and then have to wait for Word to catch up--though it doesn't happen with every single keystroke. I'm using a Lenovo ThinkPad, about 3-4 years old, running Windows 10 and using Office 365. I assume it's not a memory issue because I'm only using about 25% of capacity. The company insists no other freelancers have reported similar problems. Local computer repair shops can't tell me anything--one guy's advice was to work in Google Docs, which won't even open the file. I tried to split the file into two halves, but that somehow moved each chapter's endnotes to the end of the file and that won't do. I've Googled (and searched Ask) and haven't found any solutions. Help?

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