Some possibilities -
1 - Put the folder of 1400 documents in the Shared folder on a server accessible to everyone who will use the document, and make sure everyone has the same mapped path to that folder and the documents.
2 - Put the documents on a Web server instead of a shared folder, and let the links connect that way.
3 - if you have a Content Management or Document Management system (Laserfiche, Documentum, OpenText, Filenet), put the documents there, with the links in the master document.
Whichever way you go, you'll want to organize the 1400 documents logically into subfolders for easy access for updating and replacement.

Fred Wagner

  

Fred - The only thing about that process is what if the person doesn't have access to the internet? Also the people looking at the documents will be using all kinds of computers with different servers and Tech knowledge (some are still using disks!)

Do you think this would still work?

You can have a web server that's not on the internet - it's called an intranet. If people inside and outside your office are going to be using this document as an index/reference, they've all got to have the same access to the material it links to. Are the documents in a universally accessible format, like PDF or HTML ? If so, people can open them regardless of what OS or applications they're using. If they're in Word, and they have Vista or Win7, then Word Viewer will open them even if they aren't running MS Office. If they're in something like AutoDesk, they can only open them if they have a license.
If you have the documents in a Content Management System, there will be multiple ways to get in - via a 'thick client', via a web access on an Intranet, and web access to the Internet.
What kind of documents - PDF's, MS Office, or ??
 

Fred Wagner

  

Another possibility - much less elegant, but it might apply - 'burn' a CD-ROM or DVD of the index PDF and all of the folders and documents it refers to, and distribute the copies of the disk. Or you could put the whole thing onto a Memory Stick (thumb drive) and distribute copies of that! I have a nice retractable ballpoint pen, that includes a thumb drive, which contains ALL of the presentations and documents from a FileNet conference I attended a couple of years ago. Very cool. The best solution will depend on whether the documents you're referencing will be updated, and how often. This may be an opportunity for you to learn more about the possibilities!

Fred Wagner

  

All the documents will be pdf.  We tried word with links to pdf but some of the links break.

let me check these options out on Monday!! Hope it helps - thank you so much for your time! Will keep you informed.

Having it all PDF makes it very doable - distribute on Disk or Thumb-drive if the number of copies is reasonable. Put on a Web server if it isn't. Relax over the weekend, the solution will be clear on Monday...

Fred Wagner