How do I lock 'track changes'

[AR]

In Word 2007 - can you lock 'track changes' to make sure noone can make
changes to a document without tracking the changes and also not being able to
'accept changes' etc.?

 

[Stefan Blom]

Well, using the Restrict Formatting and Editing task pane, you can choose
the "Track changes" option. (To display the task pane, click the Protect
Document button on the Developer tab.) But note that this security measure
can be easily bypassed.

For real document protection, you must specify a password to open it (this
encrypts the document).

 

[AR]

Thanks - that solves the problem - however, you also said that this can be
bypassed. How? If I use the track changes option with a password, isn't
that sufficient?

 

[Stefan Blom]

Someone has said that if you can see it, then it will be available for
editing (one way or the other).

Editing and formatting restrictions can be bypassed in the sense that you
can insert the contents of the restricted document into a new file, where it
will be editable. Here's how: Create a new document. Click Insert tab |
Object | Text from File, select the restricted document, click Insert, and
you will get its contents inserted without protection.

 

[AR]

Thanks. At least I know to do the 'compare' with the original..