Re: Help.. I can't get rid of Track Changes feature!!!!

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From: Beth Melton (bmelton_at_NoSpam4Memvps.org)
Date: 11/05/04 

Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2004 10:32:33 -0600

Hi Valerie,

The Remove Hidden Data utility does more than remove Tracked Changes
if they are found in a document. It is a metadata removal tool.

Metadata is information stored in the document that may reveal
Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Which, btw, is not limited
to Microsoft applications. Files created in any application,
regardless of the manufacturer, will contain some type of metadata.

And yes, you are correct there is a growing concern for PII which is
why Microsoft created the utility to aid in the removal of PII prior
to sending out documents containing sensitive information.

Why is this tool necessary? Personally I believe part of it is due to
users not getting the necessary training for the tools they use daily.
For example in order to drive a car you aren't handed a drivers
license - you receive training and must pass a test first.

Those who use various applications in their daily activities should
also receive proper training and without it they muddle along clicking
aimlessly and do the best they can. Then unfortunately when they
encounter an issue that was created as a result of their lack of
knowledge they attempt to blame it on the application.

If you want to know more about metadata then read on, if you prefer
simplicity then stop here. ;-)
------------
Metadata can be categorized in two basic groups, information the user
can control and information that is automatically stored.

It is the information that the user controls that can lead to the
recovery information still stored in the document but are unable to
immediately see it on-screen.

For the most part those are:
- "Fast Saves" turned on in Tools/Options/Save. A fast save simply
appends revisions to the document rather than completely rewriting the
file.
- A document protected for Tracked Changes. You will see "TRK" in bold
in the status bar if this is the case.
- Document Versions, these are found under File/Versions
- Hidden text
- Comments
- Metadata in embedded objects

The metadata that is automatically stored with the file is the type of
information people wish to remove to maintain anonymity.

That is information such as:
- Your name
- Company name
- Previous authors
- Previous file locations
- Previous file names
- File/Properties (Fields such as Author, Title, and Company are
automatically filled in when you create a document)

All of the above can be removed without the use of the Hidden Data
Removal utility, however the utility was created to provide simplicity
and transparency for users. 

-- 
Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for 
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/
"ValerieSyn" <ValerieSyn@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:27D4BDD2-D4C1-45B5-BF5D-AB769DF43E31@microsoft.com...
> Also, the fact that Microsoft offers a free web tool to "Remove 
> Hidden
> Changes" from documents, and the fact that Microsoft offers a 
> lengthy and
> complicated Online Help article on the topic, is further evidence 
> that this
> feature is causing some problems.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Help.. I cant get rid of Track Changes feature!!!!
    ... Are you saying that if all changes have been accepted, or if tracking changes ... > The Remove Hidden Data utility does more than remove Tracked Changes ... It is a metadata removal tool. ... > to Microsoft applications. ...
    (microsoft.public.word.docmanagement)
  • Re: Help.. I cant get rid of Track Changes feature!!!!
    ... > The Remove Hidden Data utility does more than remove Tracked Changes ... It is a metadata removal tool. ... > Personally Identifiable Information (PII). ... > to Microsoft applications. ...
    (microsoft.public.word.docmanagement)
  • Re: Hidden Data Removal Tool Problems
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  • Re: Help.. I cant get rid of Track Changes feature!!!!
    ... The recipients will not see any of *your* editing. ... Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org ... It is a metadata removal tool. ... >> to Microsoft applications. ...
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