Reply To: One file OR several files?

Definitely one file per chapter/section. Set up the files with the text, insert the pics/images and when all is done, set up a book and let InDesign number the pages. It's much easier that way — well, I think so. 80 per cent of my work is books and I've tried all sorts of different things.

One file per chapter lets you set it all up without all the other files in the book continually renumbering the pages; one file per chapter lets you set up the text variable for Running Header; one file per chapter is easier to cope with when InDesign crashes and decides that the latest chapter cannot be opened for some reason known only to InD.

So — have I mentioned that one file per chapter and then the book tool is A Good Thing? :)