Date on archived file changes to today's date

[RM_architect]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I wish to print an archived transmittal letter that was sent in 2003, in order to show when I sent it. Unfortunately, the person who wrote it used an automatic date, so the moment I open it it changes to today's date.

I saw some instructions on how to change the date format, but if I do that I no longer have the same file that was archived after I save it. The changed file will have today's modification date on it. My lawyer will not be happy that I have tampered with the file.

Is there a way to set a preference in Word to not update dates so I can open and print out old files as they were saved? I tried locking the file, but that did not prevent the opened document from changing.

My current work-around is to print the file using text edit, rather than Word.

 

[MC]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I wish to print an archived transmittal letter that was sent in 2003, in
order to show when I sent it. Unfortunately, the person who wrote it used an
automatic date, so the moment I open it it changes to today's date.

I saw some instructions on how to change the date format, but if I do that I
no longer have the same file that was archived after I save it. The changed
file will have today's modification date on it. My lawyer will not be happy
that I have tampered with the file.

Is there a way to set a preference in Word to not update dates so I can open
and print out old files as they were saved? I tried locking the file, but
that did not prevent the opened document from changing.

My current work-around is to print the file using text edit, rather than
Word.

I don't know if this will be of any use, but if you invoke the Get Info
command, a window opens that shows you the date of creation plus the
date of modification. If all else fails, maybe a screen capture of that
will help support your case.

 

[John McGhie]

Of course, there is a way to prevent Word from updating dates, but not
"after the fact".

If the other user had inserted the date as hard text instead of as a Date
field, it would not update. But you have to do that at the time of document
creation.

You can select such a field and hit ⌘+SHIFT+F9 to unlink it, but again, you
need to do that before it updates. The Date field updates every time you
open the document. There is no way to prevent that (other than opening it
in TextEdit, as you discovered).

MC is on the right track: use the File System dates that you get with the
Get Info command. But be aware that none of these dates is going to hold up
in court without supporting evidence, because given enough time and
knowledge you can manipulate any of them.

Your lawyer should know that: the courts certainly do.

So if I were you, I would not bother: just show the Get Info dates in a
screen-shot.

Hope this helps

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I wish to print an archived transmittal letter that was sent in 2003, in order
to show when I sent it. Unfortunately, the person who wrote it used an
automatic date, so the moment I open it it changes to today's date.

I saw some instructions on how to change the date format, but if I do that I
no longer have the same file that was archived after I save it. The changed
file will have today's modification date on it. My lawyer will not be happy
that I have tampered with the file.

Is there a way to set a preference in Word to not update dates so I can open
and print out old files as they were saved? I tried locking the file, but that
did not prevent the opened document from changing.

My current work-around is to print the file using text edit, rather than Word.

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John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]