Outline numbering and track changes

[tiffany]

When I use track changes on auto outline numbering format, it creates red
strikethrough in the numbering in the below paragraphs when I make changes
in the previous paragraphs. I use Word 2003 on Windows XP. It happens on
multiple computers. Is it a known problem? Is there a fix for it?

 

[John McGhie [MVP Word, Word Mac]]

Hi Tiffany:

Hmmm... You and I consider it to be a "problem". Microsoft and many other
users would consider this to be a "benefit". If the autonumbering changes
the numbers, purists would say it "is" a change to the text and "should" be
marked as such.

Even if you and I find it inconvenient

There is a fix: Word 2007 is "nicer" about it. They added a lot of code to
figure out whether this numbering change was "consequent upon a text change"
(in which case, the changed number is marked in pale grey) or whether the
change in fact "was" the numbering (in which case the changed numbers are
red like any other change).

Ultimately, you and I have to get used to the idea that numbering is
considered Text, and if it changes it will be marked. And resolved when you
resolve all the other changes.

Hope this helps
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John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[tiffany]

But the fact is, I am not modifying the numbers or the text in the area of
the numbered section. I just make changes in the previous paragraphs that
are totally not related to the outlined numbers. It's okay for Word to
renumber an outline when a part of the outline is actually being deleted or
added (as in, adding or deleting a full numbered section). THAT is what
it's supposed to do. But to change a number WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATION TO
THAT AREA OF THE TEXT is completely inaccurate to the nature of the document
and an error.

 

[John McGhie [MVP Word, Word Mac]]

Hi Tiffany:

If Word is marking it as a change, then there WAS a modification to that
area of the text. The challenge is to figure out what it was. If you set
your display to show both deleted and inserted text, you will probably see
it.

That's the kind of indication you will get if your numbering format is not
correctly attached to your styles. When you made a change to the area
above, you created a different List Template for your numbering, and Word
applied it to the style, thus flowed it throughout the document (as it
should). It has marked it as a change to show you that this has happened
(as it should).

Your document is slightly corrupt. I suggest that your challenege now is to
find out why this happened and fix it, before it spreads slowly through the
document to the point where Word will fail to open the document at all.

Of course, if you have made your last changes and you are now ready to
publish, you can ignore the warning. But if you have more editing to do on
that document, or expect to have to maintain it in the future, you should
resolve the error in the document.

There's an element of "shooting the messenger" here

Cheers

--

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, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]