How to Track Changes Within a Microsoft Word Document

By eHow Computers Editor

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You can "track" the changes you make to a Microsoft Word 97 and Word 2000 (for PC) and Word 98 (for Macintosh) document by setting the Track Changes preferences, then turning on the feature. When you track changes, your additions and deletions are marked in a bright color. If more than one person edits the document, the changes appear in a different color for each editor.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Set the Track Changes Preferences

Step1
Open the document in which you want to track changes.
Step2
Go to the Tools menu.
Step3
Select Preferences.
Step4
Click on the Track Changes tab.
Step5
Go to the Inserted Text section and use the drop-down menu to select the mark you want to use to track changes.
Step6
Use the drop-down menu to select the color you want to use to track changes in the Color Used section.
Step7
Use the drop-down menu to select the mark and color you want to use to track deleted text.
Step8
Use the drop-down menu to select the changed formatting (bold, italic, underline, double underline) and color you want to use to track format changes.
Step9
Use the drop-down menu to select the changed lines (left border, right border, outside border) you want to use.

Turn on Tracked Changes

Step1
Open the Tools menu and choose Track Changes, then Highlight Changes.
Step2
Select the box marked "Track changes while editing."
Step3
Click OK. Your subsequent changes to the document will be marked with the colors and styles you selected above.

Tips & Warnings

  • To get rid of the tracking marks once you've decided which edits to keep and which not to keep, see "How to Accept or Reject Tracked Changes in Microsoft Word."

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eHow Article:  How to Track Changes Within a Microsoft Word Document

eHow Computers Editor

eHow Computers Editor

Category: Computers

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