Splitting FACT files for editing 

Due to the FACT File Size Limits, once finding aids reach a certain size, it becomes necessary to split finding aids into multiple files for editing.  To split a finding aid into multiple files, do the following.  [These directions assume you are splitting a file in two, but can be extended to split a file into more pieces.]

• Open the large file to be split in FACT.
• Review the file and pick a good place to split the file.
  • The longest portion of most large finding aids is the <dsc>, so it's usually best to split in the middle of the container list.
  • It is best to split files between series.
  • If there is more to be added to the finding aid, it's better to leave the portion still to be added to smaller than the other half.
• Select File > Save As.  If the name of the finding aid is filename.edit.xml, save a copy as filename.edit1.xml.
• Repeat the last step, saving a copy as filename.edit2.xml.  [Keep the original version as a backup until you are done with the finding aid.]
• Open both filename.edit1.xml and filename.edit2.xml.
• Select filename.edit1.xml.  Delete the portions of the <dsc> that fall after the point at which you decided to split the finding aid.
  • If you are deleting one or more series, you can delete an entire series by putting the mouse in the series title and using the keystroke Ctrl-Delete, or selecting Components >Delete. 
• Save filename.edit1.xml.  Switch to filename.edit2.xml.
• Repeat the deletion process, deleting the portions of the <dsc> that fall before the point at which you decided to split the finding aid.  Save filename.edit2.xml when you are done.
• Proceed to edit the split files as necessary.  If one gets large enough again to slow down editing in FACT, repeat these instructions to create edit3, edit4, etc.
• Be careful only to edit the collection-level portion of the finding aid in one of the split files, preferably filename.edit1.xml.
• Note: you may not be able to add internal links and/or they may be broken by splitting finding aids.  These will need to be added and/or fixed after the files are recombined.  

Recombining split FACT files 

When you are done editing split files, you can recombine files as follows:

• Open filename.edit1.xml and filename.edit2.xml in FACT.
• Follow the directions documented in Paste from one document to another to copy and paste the components in filename.edit2.xml into filename.edit1.xml.
• Save filename.edit1.xml as filename.edit.xml.