adding a date to a section of document to track additions

[Guest]

Hi, I'm wondering if there is a way to track changes in a large document that
is used for circulation. I want to be able to make changes to certain
sections and forward the particular sections(without having to forward the
whole document again) with changes to users. Is there anyway to do this
other than tracking changes?

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Sandy:

There is no "simple" way to do this, no. There are some complex ways that
will work.

I prefer not to use Tracked Changes: the document will have less corruption
problems if you use Compare Documents. You keep the previous version, and
when you have finished your updates, use Compare Documents to mark all the
differences. It is quicker, just as accurate, and far less likely to result
in document corruption.

However, before we get started, let me ask "WHY" you want to do this? What
do you expect the other users will do with the changed sections?

If you were pathetically hoping they would print them and insert them in
their manual, please trust me when I say (after 30 years of this...) that
human beings just *won't* do that.

You will be left with hundreds of copies of partially updated manuals,
nearly all of them in a greater or lesser state of "wrong".

If you want users to have up to date information, send them the whole thing
each time!

Cheers

Hi, I'm wondering if there is a way to track changes in a large document that
is used for circulation. I want to be able to make changes to certain
sections and forward the particular sections(without having to forward the
whole document again) with changes to users. Is there anyway to do this
other than tracking changes?

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Business Analyst, Consultant
Technical Writer.
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your information - I was hoping that I would be able to add an
update to a section of a document and forward the update to the various users
but I realize you are correct when you say 'humans won't update their
manuals' I guess I will have to forward the updated document every time
there are updates.

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Sandy:

Yes. I strongly agree. Sad experience tells me that this is a lot less
work: for you, and for the users.

And in a controlled documentation situation, where YOU are accountable for
ensuring that everyone has the latest information, it is also a lot more
career-positive

Cheers

Thank you for your information - I was hoping that I would be able to add an
update to a section of a document and forward the update to the various users
but I realize you are correct when you say 'humans won't update their
manuals' I guess I will have to forward the updated document every time
there are updates.

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Business Analyst, Consultant
Technical Writer.
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410