Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. 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 and 2010. 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.
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 and 2010. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Tracked Changes Notification when Opening.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!
Ever wonder how to customize the way the Track Changes feature displays revision bars at the side of changed material? This ...
Discover MoreWhen you have Track Changes turned on, Word helpfully tracks, well, "changes." In doing so, it also notes who made comments ...
Discover MoreTrack changes is a great feature to use when you want to show what has changed in a document. Word should note which editor ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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 © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments