WD97: Can't Merge Documents with Tracked Changes

ID: Q172327


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows


SYMPTOMS

If you attempt to use the Merge Documents feature to merge the tracked changes in two or more copies of the same document, you may receive the following error message:

The merged documents contain unmarked changes. Do you want to merge up to the first untracked change?
NOTE: If you click OK, Microsoft Word merges only up to the first unmarked change and highlights (selects) it. Word does not add new material that is not marked as inserted text. If you click Cancel, Word cancels the merge.


CAUSE

This error message occurs when there are differences in the two documents that have not been marked as tracked changes.


WORKAROUND

To successfully complete the merge, you can either compare documents using the Compare Documents command, or mark all differences between the copies as tracked changes.

To compare documents correctly, you must turn off the Track Changes feature, accept all tracked changes, and then run Compare Documents. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open the first document.


  2. On the Tools menu, point to Track Changes, and click Highlight Changes.


  3. In the Highlight Changes dialog box, click to clear the Track Changes While Editing check box, and click OK.


  4. On the Tools menu, point to Track Changes, and click Accept Or Reject Changes.


  5. Use the Accept and Reject buttons to review the changes in the document.


  6. Save and close the document.


  7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 for the second document.


You can now compare the first document with the second document.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.


REFERENCES

For more information about comparing versions, click Contents And Index on the Help menu click the Index tab in Word Help, and type the following text

tracking changes
and then double-click one of the topics under the selected text to go to the topic. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.
Q182057 WD97: Merging Documents vs. Comparing Documents

Additional query words: revision marks marking redline redlining

Keywords : kbdta kbproof kbfield word97 kbnumbering
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: August 19, 1999
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