Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Tracked Changes Notification when Opening.
Robin is looking for a way to notify users, when a document is opened, as to whether there are any tracked changes in the document. This is not a standard feature of Word, but it can be added easily enough with an AutoOpen macro. If you want the macro to simply indicate whether Track Changes is turned on, you can use the following:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
Sub AutoOpen()
If ActiveDocument.TrackRevisions = True Then
MsgBox "Track Changes is On."
End If
End Sub
Note that this macro doesn't let you know if there are actually any changes in the document, so it doesn't help in the situation where Track Changes is turned off, but unresolved changes from a previous editing session still exist. In that case, you need to expand the macro slightly.
Sub AutoOpen()
On Error Resume Next
If ActiveDocument.TrackRevisions = True Then
MsgBox "Track Changes is On"
With ActiveWindow.View
.ShowRevisionsAndComments = True
.RevisionsView = wdRevisionsViewFinal
End With
Exit Sub
End If
If ActiveDocument.Revisions.Count > 0 Then
MsgBox "Document contains revisions"
With ActiveWindow.View
.ShowRevisionsAndComments = True
.RevisionsView = wdRevisionsViewFinal
End With
Exit Sub
End If
End Sub
This version of the macro checks two conditions, displaying a message box if Track Changes is turned on and also displaying a message box if there are any changes existing in the document. In both cases, the macro also changes the view of the document so that changes are visible on-screen.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (10971) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Tracked Changes Notification when Opening.
Do More in Less Time! Are you ready to harness the full power of Word 2013 to create professional documents? In this comprehensive guide you'll learn the skills and techniques for efficiently building the documents you need for your professional and your personal life. Check out Word 2013 In Depth today!
Track Changes is a valuable Word tool that allows you to automatically mark changes in your document. This is a great ...
Discover MoreTrack Changes is a handy tool for those who need to see how a document changes over time. If you have a long document ...
Discover MoreWhen using Track Changes, Word normally notes the originator of a particular comment or change. This information can then ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2018-02-26 11:27:39
Jay
Another option, albeit not automatic, would be to add the Next Change command to the Quick Access Toolbar and manually check for a change.
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2018 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments