Word keeps randomly switching to draft view when I have track changes on.

Anonymous
2012-03-13T15:32:00+00:00

In Word 2010, if I am editing a document with Track Changes on in Print Layout view, it will randomly switch to Draft view, opening the comments pane (instead of having comments bubbles in Print Layout view). This is an annoying bug since I prefer the arrangement of information in Print Layout view compared to Draft view. Is there a way to prevent this automatic switching while still having Track Changes on?

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-04-10T15:06:35+00:00

    Does this happen with a particular document?

    Create a new document and check if the issue occurs.

    In case you area able to work with the new document, this issue is specific to the document.

    I think MS pretends to be dumb. Yes, it happens to a particular document, not to all of them. No, I cannot send them to you. Are we going to get any solution anytime soon?

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  2. Charles Kenyon 170.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2012-04-10T14:45:03+00:00

    Word should NEVER decide to switch views by its own decision just because you go idle. Please patch this Microsoft!

    I doubt that this is what is happening. I don't doubt that this is what seems to be happening to you, though.

    I can think of two likely culprits. The first is a troublesome Add-In. The second is stray mouse clicks from a sensitive laptop touchpad.

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  3. Charles Kenyon 170.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2012-04-10T14:41:04+00:00

    To all with 64-bit versions of Word (Office)...

    Try disabling all Add-Ins. There are two buttons to do this on the Developer Tab. Start with the com Add-Ins.

    If you don't have a Developer Tab you can enable it under Customize the Ribbon. See here.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-04-10T12:33:58+00:00

    This is happening to me too. I'm running Word 2010 64 bit (v. 14.0.6112.5000), Windows 7 x64. It seems to happen when I am editing a comment in print preview mode, and pause typing for a minute or so. Then, boom, it switches to draft mode.

    Oddly, I don't remember having this problem before, so it is likely specific to the document I'm working on. The document comes from someone who is using an earlier version of Word, but I saved it as a Word 2010 document.

    Microsoft, please fix!

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  5. Anonymous
    2012-04-10T11:55:12+00:00

    I have the exact same problem of being presistently switched to Draft view from the default Print Layout view. But there seems to be a lag time in between ie. it switches to Draft view after a certain time period. Working on the document (not leaving it idle) seem to not prevent the problem. The screen also occasionally jumps to a different part of the document. It's a bit annoying.

    Similarly, I am using Endnote X5, and working while having the Track Changes option on. Please address this bug.

    My system: HP Pavilion dm4. Windows 7 Pro 6.1.7601 SP1. Office 2010 version 14.0.6112.5000 (32-bit).

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