Track changes bug

[diane73]

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

Since I got my computer back in June, I have experienced problems with Word freezing unexpectedly. It is always in a document where I have used the "Track Changes" feature, although it is not necessarily on at the time of the freeze. On several occasions, no Auto Recovery file was generated, which is a HUGE problem when it freezes just before I have a chance to paste recently cut text in a new area! It seems to like it if I keep the changes to a minimum, but this is hardly practical while I'm editing, and makes the feature of considerably less value. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

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

Since I got my computer back in June, I have experienced problems with Word freezing unexpectedly. It is always in a document where I have used the "Track Changes" feature, although it is not necessarily on at the time of the freeze. On several occasions, no Auto Recovery file was generated, which is a HUGE problem when it freezes just before I have a chance to paste recently cut text in a new area! It seems to like it if I keep the changes to a minimum, but this is hardly practical while I'm editing, and makes the feature of considerably less value. Any help would be appreciated!

Hi,

Make sure you install the updates as they come along.

If your copy of office is completely up to date, please report the
problem to Microsoft. Use the Help > Send Feedback feature to make a report.

Thanks.

-Jim

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are independent experts who are not affiliated with Microsoft.


Visit my blog
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-i7JMeio7cqvhotIUwCzaJWq9

 

[CyberTaz]

Hello Diane -

Since you don't mention whether or not you've done so the first step in
correcting the "hang" issue is to make sure you have both OS X & Office
fully updated & that you have repaired disk permissions afterward. If that
is the current status - or if the problem continues after it's done - you
may very well be dealing with a corrupt document. Is it just one/several
docs in particular or all docs that present the freeze problem? It may also
be a matter of older files in [Compatibility Mode] if you're continuing to
work with them in the .doc file format.

Another possible issue is RAM - even some of the newest Macs ship with only
1 GB, which is really a bare minimum any more. If you don't have at least 2
GB do you notice any difference if you have no other programs running?

Track Changes is an excellent & reliable feature, but it has to be treated
with a modicum of restraint Turning it OFF does nothing with regard to
the tracking which has already been done in the file. The more tracking
retained in the file the more likely the file will corrupt. IOW, the feature
isn't intended to be used perpetually in any given file. All tracked changes
should be Accepted/Rejected in order to avoid over-complicating the file. If
you need to do so, archive a copy at certain points with the changes intact
& continue to do your further revisions in the new copy.

For further clarification, AutoRecover doesn't kick in until you save the
file at least once. Then it preserves the changes made since the last save
in a temporary file which is replaced after each successive save. You might
consider turning on the Automatically Create Backup Copy feature if you
aren't already using it: Word> Preferences> Save, first checkbox.

Try the suggestions first offered above & if that doesn't correct the
problem post back with as much additional detail as you can... And please
start a New thread by asking a New Question. Tacking on as a Reply to a
previous thread which has been dead for 3 months isn't a good way to go
even if the issue "seems" to be similar. Much has changed re the OS as well
as Office in that time.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie]

I agree with the others: Track Changes imposes extreme stress on a Word
document.

If you are working in the old .doc format, I wouldn't (don't!) use Track
Changes at all: it will break the document every time.

Either work exclusively in .docx, or use Compare Documents instead. To use
Compare Documents, make a copy of the original, turn Track Changes OFF and
edit normally. When you have finished, compare your new version with the
old version.

All the differences will be accurately marked as editing changes by you, but
it won't break the document! Makes it easier to edit, too, because you do
not have to fight your way through a thicket of changes to read the text.

You haven't been "hiding" the changes while you work, have you? Don't do
that: that's another name for suicide

Hope this helps

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

Since I got my computer back in June, I have experienced problems with Word
freezing unexpectedly. It is always in a document where I have used the "Track
Changes" feature, although it is not necessarily on at the time of the freeze.
On several occasions, no Auto Recovery file was generated, which is a HUGE
problem when it freezes just before I have a chance to paste recently cut text
in a new area! It seems to like it if I keep the changes to a minimum, but
this is hardly practical while I'm editing, and makes the feature of
considerably less value. Any help would be appreciated!

--

Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

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

 

[diane73]

Thank you all for the advice. Here is how I've applied it, and some answers to your various questions:

- I have 2GB of RAM, which I expect is enough memory, especially as most of the files on the computer are Word documents.

- It is not one document that I've had problems with, but several, so I don't think it's a matter of a corrupt file (although I have noticed that working with .doc files does create additional problems).

- I always install updates as they come along, so OSX and Office 2008 are both fully updated, and I have now also repaired disk permissions. Hopefully this helps!

- I always save a file as soon as I begin working on it, I had Word set to create an Auto Recovery file every 10 minutes, and have now added "Always Create Backup Copy." Hopefully this gives me some added protection against losing work.

- I will, instead of relying solely on "Track Changes," try the "Compare Documents" feature, in spite of my desire to use "Track Changes"on its own and unrestrainedly (-:

- I have sent a report to Microsoft.

- I was completely unaware that I had tacked my reply on as a response to a previous thread. I looked at a similar one, and thought that I'd started a new one. This is my first post, so I'll be more careful to start a new thread the next time around... Sorry for any inconvenience.

Thanks again for the advice, and I will send updates if I have any more problems.

Diane

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Diane -

Thanks for the update - I think you're on the right track

As for the original message it's very easy to be misled. The design of the
interface leaves a lot to be desired, although it has been much improved
from its original introductory state of confusion. Hopefully it will be
corrected without much further delay.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[mr. wally]

I too am seeing system hangs (spinning beachballs) that only a Force Quit
will fix. Happens when I open a document with Track Changes.

Mac OS 10.5.4
Office 2008 12.1.2
Permissions "fixed"
1.6Ghz G5, 4GB RAM

I am editing files that have gone back and forth between author and myself.
I have received other files from other authors and see the same behavior so I
don't think files are corrupted. Doing a simple find & replace on the file
is enough to send it into spinning beachball time.

w. groto

 

[CyberTaz]

Can't follow your logic Wally - it's like saying "I don't think have Poison
Ivy on my left arm because my other arm & my legs have a rash too"

Track Changes - especially in .doc files is quite commonly a source of
corruption & the symptoms you describe fit it to a "T". Document passed by
email & continuously being revised with TC constantly running are prime
candidates for such a problem.

If repairing permissions doesn't improve the situation - and I doubt that it
will - I'd suggest you have a look at the post from John McGhie earlier in
this thread (Aug 12) as well as the information on this page:

http://word.mvps.org/Mac/DocumentCorruption.html

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 8/18/08 8:34 PM, in article
(e-mail address removed), "mr. wally" <mr.

 

[Phillip Jones]

Bob if you live in the USA
get a cake of this soap.

http://www.poisonivysoap.com/

Many Drugstores Carry it Wal-Greens and so on.

IF you have Poison Oak/Ivy/Sumac breakout . It will dry it up. and if
You remember to wash affected areas with as soon as you are subjected to
the leaves while out in the Yard/garden/ or Field Hunting. It will stop
you from having a Breakout. My brother is affected by it so bad, he has
to go get shots at the doctor for it. And he hasn't had to go to doctor
since he first got the soap.

Can't follow your logic Wally - it's like saying "I don't think have Poison
Ivy on my left arm because my other arm & my legs have a rash too"

Track Changes - especially in .doc files is quite commonly a source of
corruption & the symptoms you describe fit it to a "T". Document passed by
email & continuously being revised with TC constantly running are prime
candidates for such a problem.

If repairing permissions doesn't improve the situation - and I doubt that it
will - I'd suggest you have a look at the post from John McGhie earlier in
this thread (Aug 12) as well as the information on this page:

http://word.mvps.org/Mac/DocumentCorruption.html

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 8/18/08 8:34 PM, in article
(e-mail address removed), "mr. wally" <mr.

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616 Liberty Street |Who's Who. PHONE:276-632-5045, FAX:276-632-0868
Martinsville Va 24112 |[email protected], ICQ11269732, AIM pjonescet
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[John McGhie]

Hi Phillip:

Do they make a soap for Tracked Changes too?

Cheers

Bob if you live in the USA
get a cake of this soap.

http://www.poisonivysoap.com/

Many Drugstores Carry it Wal-Greens and so on.

IF you have Poison Oak/Ivy/Sumac breakout . It will dry it up. and if
You remember to wash affected areas with as soon as you are subjected to
the leaves while out in the Yard/garden/ or Field Hunting. It will stop
you from having a Breakout. My brother is affected by it so bad, he has
to go get shots at the doctor for it. And he hasn't had to go to doctor
since he first got the soap.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

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

 

[Phillip Jones, CET]

I don't know?? I did get that far into their website to see. :/

Hi Phillip:

Do they make a soap for Tracked Changes too?

Cheers

--