Document Compare in Word 2007

Fortunately, I can avoid this with the compare feature in Word 2007. If I want to compare two documents with Word 2007, I point Word at an original and revised document, and Word gives me back (in a single window):

1. My original document
2. The revised document
3. A compared version of the document: what the revised document would have looked like if track changes were turned on

When I scroll in the any of the documents, the other two instances scroll in sync. I don't scroll to page three of the original, and then need to scroll to page three of the revised and compared versions. I can just review the changes in context…nothing else. You can check-out a quick demo of this here.

How to Compare

Here's how this comparison is done.

Step 1

On the Review tab of the ribbon, click the 'Compare' button:

Step 2

You'll see this dialogue where you give Word 2007 the original and revised documents.

If you want more granular control on what is tracked and how, click 'More':

When you click "OK", you'll see the nifty three pane compare layout. That's it. Nice.

Other Assorted Niceties

• You can specify who the revisions in the compared document are attributed to.
• This used primarily in situations where the person doing the compare is not be the person who revised the document. For example, an attorney makes changes to a document and then a paralegal runs the compare.
• All of the "Comparison settings" you choose are "sticky": Word 2007 remembers which options you selected, so you don't need to set them over and over each time you run a compare.
• SharePoint integration: If the documents are SharePoint versions, then additional items will appear in the Compare drop-down allowing you to pick the most recent major version, minor version, or pick a version.
• You can granularly compare tables. In the example below, I added Column One & changed the values of the cells in Column Two in the revised version of the document. Each of these changes is clear in the compared document.