Making Simple Markup the Default for Track Changes

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 28, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021


Shuna works as an editor and a tutor in editing and proofreading. Many of her learners are bemused by Track Changes because "All Markup" is the default display setting. This makes it unnecessarily difficult for them to work with all the clutter onscreen. Shuna wonders if there is a way to change the default from "All Markup" to "Simple Markup."

Track Changes is one of those interesting features in Word that exhibits what is called "persistence." This can, however, be a bit confusing to users. You can see persistence in action by following these steps:

  1. Open a document in Word.
  2. Change the Track Changes settings so they reflect how you want to work with the feature. (For instance, you can change from "All Markup" to "Simple Markup" display.)
  3. Save the document.
  4. Get out of Word entirely.

Now, if you open a different document in Word, your settings (from step 2) should be in force. In other words, they were persistent across sessions with Word. However, if you later change the Track Changes settings and save the document (you are performing steps 2 and 3), then those changes are remembered for your next session with Word.

The only way to get your settings to be exactly like you want them, every time you start Word, is to create a macro that is run every time you start the program. You can do this by editing your Normal template and adding the following to it:

Sub AutoOpen()
    With ActiveWindow.View.RevisionsFilter
        .Markup = wdRevisionsMarkupSimple
        .View = wdRevisionsViewFinal
    End With
End Sub

With this macro in place, every time you open a document the "Simple Markup" display option will be invoked for any changes.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13752) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Controlling Footnote Placement

Footnotes are normally placed at the bottom of the page on which the footnote is referenced. However, Word provides some ...

Discover More

Using the Function Key Display Toolbar

Need to know what various function keys do? One easy way to find out is to use the Function Key Display toolbar, ...

Discover More

Pulling a Phone Number with a Known First and Last Name

When using an Excel worksheet to store data (such as names and phone numbers), you may need a way to easily look up a ...

Discover More

The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2013. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2013 For Dummies today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Examining Tracked Changes in a Macro

The Track Changes feature in Word is very handy when you need to see what edits are made to a document. Using a macro, ...

Discover More

Getting a Warning for Markup

Many people, when collaborating on a document with others, use the Track Changes feature to show the effects of their ...

Discover More

Changing How Changes are Noted in Word

Do you want to modify how Word marks changes in your document? It's easy to do, if you know where to look.

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 0 + 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.