"Compare and Merge Documents" issues with images

[Ruslan]

Setup: Microsoft Office Word 2003 (11.6502.6408) SP1

Scenario 1:
1. Created a document with an image (any format: JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, etc.)
and saved it as Document1_1.doc
2. Resized image and saved document with name Document1_2. doc.
3. Closed all instances of Word
4. Opened Document1_1.doc. Selected Tools\Compare and Merge Documents and
performed merge with Document1_2. doc.

Problem 1: No image revisions created in the merged document.
Note: No revisions are also created for changes in other properties, such as
brightness, contrast, transparency, etc.

Scenario 2:
1. Made a copy of Document1_1.doc and renamed it to Document2_1.doc.
1. Opened Document2_1.doc and selected image and replaced it with another
image.
2. Saved updated document with the name Document2_2.doc
3. Closed all instances of Word
4. Opened Document2_1.doc. Selected Tools\Compare and Merge Documents and
performed merge with Document2_2. doc.

Problem 2: No image revisions created in the merged document.

Scenario 3:
1. Created a document with 3 images that follow one another (any format:
JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, etc.) and saved it as Document3_1.doc
2. Deleted second image.
3. Saved updated document with the name Document2_2.doc.
4. Closed all instances of Word
5. Opened Document3_1.doc. Selected Tools\Compare and Merge Documents and
performed merge with Document3_2. doc.
6. Save document in WordML format with the name Document3_3.xml

Problem 3: Delete revision contains third picture inside. It should be the
second image. Inspect saved WordML file. Word ML content looks strange.
Note: Try this with images that follow one another (image that follow one
another appear next to each other horizontally) and with images that are
separated with paragraphs (image that follow one another appear next to each
other vertically). Result is the same.


Question: Did anyone run across the described issues? Is there a quick
work-around? I do the merge operation programatically through the Word
Interop assemblies on WordML files. I need it to track changes in a document.

Ruslan

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Ruslan,

You may want to also post this in the OfficeDev newsgroup
(link below).

You didn't mention if these graphics are inline with text
(in which case Word can 'see' them) or have wrapped layout
style in which case Word only sees the anchor for the graphics,
but generally Word's track changes may not see graphic resizing
as a change through the Compare/Track tools.

If you use Tools=>Track Changes and Word marks the change there
then it will usually be seen in Compare/Merge Documents.
Working with the underlying HTML/XML files you may see the differences.

You may also want to post in the Office XML newsgroup about
scenario 3. Some of the MS folks who work on Word ML and the
XML formats visit from time to time and are interested in any
anomolies that may appear.

=========
Setup: Microsoft Office Word 2003 (11.6502.6408) SP1

Scenario 1:
1. Created a document with an image (any format: JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, etc.)
and saved it as Document1_1.doc
2. Resized image and saved document with name Document1_2. doc.
3. Closed all instances of Word
4. Opened Document1_1.doc. Selected Tools\Compare and Merge Documents and
performed merge with Document1_2. doc.

Problem 1: No image revisions created in the merged document.
Note: No revisions are also created for changes in other properties, such as
brightness, contrast, transparency, etc.

Scenario 2:
1. Made a copy of Document1_1.doc and renamed it to Document2_1.doc.
1. Opened Document2_1.doc and selected image and replaced it with another
image.
2. Saved updated document with the name Document2_2.doc
3. Closed all instances of Word
4. Opened Document2_1.doc. Selected Tools\Compare and Merge Documents and
performed merge with Document2_2. doc.

Problem 2: No image revisions created in the merged document.

Scenario 3:
1. Created a document with 3 images that follow one another (any format:
JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, etc.) and saved it as Document3_1.doc
2. Deleted second image.
3. Saved updated document with the name Document2_2.doc.
4. Closed all instances of Word
5. Opened Document3_1.doc. Selected Tools\Compare and Merge Documents and
performed merge with Document3_2. doc.
6. Save document in WordML format with the name Document3_3.xml

Problem 3: Delete revision contains third picture inside. It should be the
second image. Inspect saved WordML file. Word ML content looks strange.
Note: Try this with images that follow one another (image that follow one
another appear next to each other horizontally) and with images that are
separated with paragraphs (image that follow one another appear next to each
other vertically). Result is the same.


Question: Did anyone run across the described issues? Is there a quick
work-around? I do the merge operation programatically through the Word
Interop assemblies on WordML files. I need it to track changes in a document.

Ruslan >>
--
LLet us know if this has helped you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP
*courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends8

A. Specific newsgroup/discussion group mentioned in this message:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.officedev
or via browser:
http://microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/?dg=microsoft.public.officedev
http://microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/?dg=microsoft.public.office.xml

B. MS Office Community discussion/newsgroups via Web Browser
http://microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
or
Microsoft hosted newsgroups via Outlook Express/newsreader
news://msnews.microsoft.com

 

[Ruslan]

Thank you Bob.

I see serious issues with images, no matter if they are inline of
"anchored". Mostly, we deal with inline images.

What worries me the most is that Word merge results are very inconsistent
and quite often unpredictable when documents contain images. Because of this,
it is very hard to create a work-around for the issue.

It is extremally critical for legal document. A missing document scan or a
wrong or forged evidence picture may result in serious matter consequences.
Therefore, it is very important to keep track of the changes in pictures. No
matter if they are inline or "anchored". It is almost impossible to force
people that have limited knowledge in computers to insert pictures into a
document one way or another.

I will definitely post into the microsoft.public.officedev newsgroup. Sorry
for multiple postings. I wasn't sure who takes care of which newsgroups.

Once again, thanks for your help.

Ruslan
ruslan(!period!)urban(monkey&sign)upsidesoft.com