Comparing Documents in Word 97

[Darren Barefoot <dbarefoot -at- MPS-CANADA -dot- COM>]

Good morning,

We're going to be making some changes to an online help source file in Word
97, and we want to be able to track the changes so that we can make changes
to the print source file (unfortunately, in FrameMaker). The good people at
Blue Sky (Robohelp) have advised against using the actual Track Changes
function, as it apparently can cause some serious problems in compiling.

So, we planned to just compare the old and the new document (using the
"Compare Documents" feature), with the changes reflected in the old document
(leaving the modified document uncorrupted). I've tested this, and it works
fine for additions and deletions, but it doesn't reflect formatting changes
(if I make something bold, it doesn't appear changed in the comparison
document).

Our third-party book ("Using MS Word 97" from QUE, p. 661) says "when you're
finished [comparing documents], you'll have a document that includes change
marks wherever additions, deletions (and optionally, formatting changes)
were made." However, a Microsoft knowledge base item
(http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q196/7/66.asp) indicates
that "Compare Documents" was never intended for comparing formatting (or
drawing layer objects). Alas.

So, we're seeking a nifty and effective way to compare Word 97 documents
that will compare everything, including formatting, footnotes, etc.
Microsoft has suggested the dubiously-named CompareRite. Does anybody have
any experience with this or other products.

Thanks. DB.

---------------------------
Darren Barefoot
Technical Content Developer
1-604-904-0822 ext.112
<mailto: dbarefoot -at- mps-canada -dot- com>
<http://www.mps.com>

Meridian News!
Prolog Manager 5.0 and Prolog WebSite now shipping!!  For more
information
on our products call our sales department at 800-850-2660 or visit our
website www.mps.com <http://www.mps.com>.

 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=