Restrict Editing but allow Track Changes - Word 365

Anonymous
2019-02-27T09:33:21+00:00

I have created a Word doc in Word 365, with limit formatting to a selection of styles. For editing restriction, I want users to freely edit a part of the document, that's why I choose 'No changes (Read only)', and select a part of the document for Exceptions (freely edit). But when I do this, it disables the “track changes” option – which I do not want. I want users to have the ability to track their changes in the sections that they are allowed to edit.

Do you have any solutions for it?

Thanks in advance,

Giang

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2019-02-28T08:26:47+00:00

Hi Giang,

Thanks for writing back and taking your time for looking at video.

No, as the Track Changes option is disabled when the Restrict Editing is applied, the Accept and Reject option in Changes are also disabled. Steps provided in my first reply only works as workaround and can’t find the way for it (sorry for that).

In addition, we suggest you provide a feedback in Word UserVoice as the related team can take into consideration.

Regards,

Chitrahaas

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Answer recommended by moderator
Jay Freedman 208.3K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2019-02-27T16:18:12+00:00

If everyone who will use the document has Office 2010 for Windows or later (or the most recent version of Word for Mac), I'll suggest a different form of protection.

First, turn off the "No Changes" protection, leaving only the restricted styles protection.

At the place where you want users to edit freely, insert a rich text content control (from the first button in the Controls group of the Developer ribbon). Then select the entire document, and click Group > Group on the Developer ribbon. The result of this is that nothing outside of the content control will be editable -- text editing won't be allowed, and the Font, Paragraph, and Styles sections of the Home ribbon and most items on the other tabs will be disabled when the cursor isn't in the content control. When the cursor is in the control, though, everything will be enabled, including Track Changes, except that the style selection will be restricted to whatever you've allowed.

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-02-27T14:42:52+00:00

    Hi Giang,

    We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused by it.

    Based on your description, when we tested at by following the steps below, the Track Changes is disabled for the edit part.

    a. Open the Word document> Review> Restrict Editing

    b. In the Editing restrictions, select No changes (Read only)

    c. Selecting part that can be edited> Select the users from the Exceptions.

    d. Enter the password by clicking on Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.

    When we follow the steps above, we cannot track the changes for the edit part.

    So, we suggest you try the following and check the outcome (where we tested at our end):

    a. Open the Word document> Review tab.

    b. First select the option Track Changes in Tracking.

    c. Now, apply Restrict editing and follow the next steps mentioned above (b, c, and d)

    Note: Choose All Markup in the Display for Review.

    After doing it, check and provide the result.

    Regards,

    Chitrahaas

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  2. Stefan Blom 353.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2019-02-27T15:34:59+00:00

    I'm afraid you will have to choose either editing restrictions or tracking changes. You can't have both in the same document (because the options in the Editing Restrictions drop down are mutually exclusive).But see Jay's response for another method to accomplish what you want.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-02-28T00:35:27+00:00

    Hi Chitrahaas,

    Thank you. Unfortunately, once you restrict editing, it overrides previous choice.

    Best,

    Giang

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