Versions of Word versus Tracked changes

[Roger Davis]

Two of my users have complained that tracked changes made by user 1 using
Office 2000 SR1 were accepted by the Office 2003 user 2 and sent on to third
party but when the document finally got back to user 1 using Office 2000
SR1 - all the original changes appeared again [ still tracked] as if never
accepted.

I propose to carry out some tests myself when I get time and will report
back here next week but in the meantime I wonder if others have any advice
or observations. Is it likely that Office 2000 SR1 and Office 2003 are
basically incompatible in the creation or acceptance of tracked changes from
the other package.

Does it actually require a change of workflow ?

One theory I have is that Office 2000 SR1 does not flag which users made a
change whereas the more recent XP versions do record the user making the
change and might have a problem accepting by default, tracked changes made
by other users.

 

[Roger Davis]

For the record extensive empirical tests reveal no incompatibility between
the three versions of MS Word in the recognition and display of tracked
changes.

Changes made by Office 2000 SR1 were accepted by the Office 2003/2002 and
the reverse.
The user interface looks a bit different but the functionality is the same.

It is important to maintain version control.
Time shifts when OUTLOOK 2000 saves attachments are a real problem.