Get the Most out of Word 2007's Enhanced Comparison Feature
Applies to: Word 2007
When you need to see differences between two Word documents or if you're just not sure you have the most recent version of a document, you'll love what Microsoft has done to enhance the on-screen reviewing capabilities of this feature. Here, we offer some tips for getting the most out it.
Launching Document Comparison
An important new feature to note: Comparison no longer relies on the "Original" document being open before you launch the compare. This was known to cause confusion in past versions.
- Select the Review Tab.
- Click on the Compare split-menu button and choose Compare. The following dialogue-box appears prompting selection of the two documents to compare.
- Select the Original and Revised documents from the File System or, with proper integration, your document management system. Before you you hit OK, click on the More button at the bottom of the window. You'll see a host of settings, turned on by default.
- The Comparison Settings section deals with the specifics you want to compare. Decide how much you really need to know about changes to the document and uncheck any options you feel will obscure modifications you are most interested in reviewing. For example, in certain circumstances you may be more concerned content changes in the main body of the document versus reviewing changes to formatting, white space or the content in headers and footers.
- The Show Changes section deals with how you want the changes shown. As words are compared, do you want the level of granularity to appear at the Character or Word level? For example, if someone has added an "s" to the word "tree" do you want to see it as "trees" or "trees"?
Finally, you can choose whether to have your changes shown in the Original document, the Compared document, or in a completely New document.
- Now, click "OK." Word generates a tri-pane panel comparison window, which shows the before, after and merged versions of the document with deleted, inserted and moved text clearly marked.
Tip: Change tracking, the activity of marking changes as they are made, absolutely shines when making edits like word or spelling changes, content inserts, deletions or moves. However, this method falters when changes are substantive - when simple editing crosses over to redrafting. An abundance of markings often renders the content illegible.
In the past, drafters (and re-drafters…) relied on Word's change tracking for everything, largely because Word's comparison could not be relied upon to properly flag substantive changes such as moves and table edits. With Microsoft's investments in Word 2007's comparison interface, new Track Changes methods and an engine overhaul completed in Word 2003, this constraint no longer exists. A new workflow can now emerge: redraft without tracking, then Compare to provide a thoroughly marked result.
DocXtools helps solve Comparison problems.
The comparison intervention feature in DocXtools empowers a user to quickly overcome comparison issues and generate a successful document comparison. DocXtools comparison intervention works with Workshare Professional, DeltaView, native Word 2003 Professional and Word 2007.
Watch Comparison Intervention in Action »
