track changes grayed out

[aviation editor]

I am using Word 2003. I am working in a file that is not originally mine. I
need to accept all changes made, but in the Reviewing tool bar, accept
change, reject change, and accept all changes is grayed out. I also tried to
right click on each addition and deletion, and accept and reject change is
grayed out there too. I just want to accept all changes made; I do not need
to review them. How can I do this?

Thanks!

 

[Dawn Crosier, Word MVP]

It sounds as though your tracked changes were turned on using protection.
From the Tools menu select Unprotect Document. If you are prompted for a
password, then you will need to get with the originator of the document to
have them supply it.

Good Luck.

--
Dawn Crosier
Microsoft MVP
"Education Lasts a Lifetime"

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[aviation editor]

Thanks so much. That is exactly the problem.

Unfortunately, the original author is not longer available to speak with.
Do you know if there's a way to work around the protection? Or to disable it
in some other way?

 

[Jay Freedman]

Since you can see the document, I can assume that the document is protected
for forms, rather than protected for opening. The former is easy to unlock,
while the latter is nearly impossible.

See http://www.gmayor.com/Remove_Password.htm for the procedure to use.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

No, it's protected for Track Changes, but it may well be that the protection
for that is as trivial (and as easily defeated) as the protection for forms.

 

[Jay Freedman]

You're right -- I'd forgotten that you could apply a password to Track
Changes. A quick test shows that the same technique does defeat the
password.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.