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How to Track Changes in PowerPoint A Step-by-Step Guide

November 1, 2023 1.4K views

In today's fast-paced work environment, tracking changes in PowerPoint is crucial. Some may be unaware of its potential. How can one easily track changes? This guide empowers you to streamline collaboration, reduce errors, and elevate your presentations.

Part 1 What is Track Changes In PowerPoint?

Track Changes In PowerPoint

Track Changes is a feature in PowerPoint that allows you to see and track changes that have been made to a presentation. This can be useful for collaboration purposes, or for simply keeping track of your own changes so that you can revert to a previous version if needed.

Track Changes works by comparing two versions of a presentation: the original version and the revised version. The revised version can be a copy of the original version that has been edited, or it can be a completely new presentation.

Once you have compared the two versions, PowerPoint will highlight all of the changes that have been made. This can include changes to text, images, formatting, and even the layout of the slides.

You can then review the changes and decide whether or not to accept them. You can also add comments to the changes to provide feedback to the reviewer.

Benefits of Using Track Changes in PowerPoint

  • Improved collaboration

  • Better version control

  • Increased accuracy

Part 2 Step-by-Step Guide to Track Changes in PowerPoint

Tracking changes in PowerPoint is an essential feature for collaborative editing. Here's a detailed guide to help you make the most of this powerful tool:

Method 1: Using the Review Tab

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation.

Open PowerPoint

Step 2: Navigate to the "Review" tab in the ribbon.

Step 3: Click on "Compare" and then select "Compare..."

Click on "Compare"

Step 4: Choose the presentation you want to compare it with.

Choose the presentation

Step 5: PowerPoint will highlight the differences between the two presentations, making it easy to identify changes made by reviewers.

I find this method to be straightforward and efficient. It provides a clear visual representation of the changes, which is incredibly helpful for comprehensive review.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Software

If you prefer a more specialized approach, third-party software like Wondershare's PDFelement offers a comprehensive solution for tracking changes in PowerPoint.

While this method may offer additional functionalities, it's important to ensure compatibility with your workflow and specific requirements.

Google Slides icon

Ultimately, the best way to decide which method is best for you is to experiment with different methods and see what works best for you.

Part 3 The Importance Of Tracking Changes In PowerPoint

Understanding the pivotal role that tracking changes plays in PowerPoint presentations is essential in today's collaborative work environment. This section delves into the profound impact it has on project efficiency, quality assurance, and establishing a transparent workflow.

Tracking changes in PowerPoint is important for a few reasons:

  • Enabling you to view and monitor alterations made to a presentation, fostering effective collaboration.

  • Enhancing presentation quality by detecting and rectifying errors or discrepancies.

  • Establishing a transparent and traceable workflow for improved accountability.

Here are a few tips for using track changes in online projects:

  • Make sure that everyone on the team knows how to use track changes.

  • Use a cloud-based presentation tool, such as Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint Online, so that everyone can easily access and collaborate on the presentation.

  • Set up a regular review process to review the changes that have been made to the presentation and to provide feedback.

Part 4 Best Free Office Suite on Your PC - WPS Office

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WPS Office is a free office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet program, and presentation program. It is compatible with Microsoft Office and offers many features that are similar to Microsoft Office, but for free. WPS Office is also compatible with Open Office, so you can easily switch between the two suites if needed.

Why use WPS Office?

There are several reasons why you might want to use WPS Office:

  • It is free.

  • It is compatible with Microsoft Office and Open Office.

  • It offers a wide range of features, including track changes, collaboration tools, and data visualization tools.

  • It is easy to use.

I have been using WPS Office for several months now and I have been very impressed with it. It is a fast and reliable office suite that offers all of the features that I need. I have also found that it is very easy to use, even if you are not familiar with Microsoft Office.

How to track changes in WPS Office:

To track changes in WPS Office, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the document that you want to track changes in.

Open WPS Presentation.

Step 2: Click the Review tab.

Step 3: In the Tracking group, click Track Changes.

click Track Changes.

click Track Changes.

Step 4: Make your changes to the document.

Step 5: To review the changes, click the Review tab and then click Show Changes.

Review tab

Review tab

To accept a change: Click the Accept Change button next to the change.

To reject a change: Click the Reject Change button next to the change.

To save the document with the changes: Click the File tab and then click Save.

Tips for using track changes in WPS Office:

  • To quickly accept or reject all changes, click the Accept All Changes or Reject All Changes button at the top of the Revisions pane.

  • To view a summary of all changes, click the Summary button at the bottom of the Revisions pane.

  • To filter changes by type, click the Filter button and select the types of changes that you want to view.

Overall, I highly recommend WPS Office to anyone looking for a free and powerful office suite.

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FAQs

Q1: How do I restrict changes in PowerPoint?

To restrict changes in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation.

Step 2: Go to the "Review" tab in the ribbon at the top.

Step 3: Click on "Restrict Editing" in the "Protect" group.

Click on

Click on "Restrict Editing"

Step 4: In the task pane that appears on the right, check the box that says "Allow only this type of editing in the document."

Step 5: Choose "Tracked Changes" from the drop-down menu.

Step 6: Optionally, you can set specific individuals who are allowed to make changes without tracking.

Step 7: Click on "Yes, Start Enforcing Protection."

Step 8: Set a password if desired, and then click "OK."

This will restrict changes to the document to be made only in a tracked manner. Others will need to use tracked changes to edit the presentation.

Q2: Can I track changes in a shared presentation?

Yes, you can track changes in a shared presentation. Utilize the "Review" tab and select "Compare" to view and manage changes made by reviewers

Q3: Can I accept or reject multiple changes at once?

Absolutely, you can accept or reject multiple changes simultaneously. Use the "Review" tab and select "Show Markup" to access the drop-down menu, then choose "Accept All Changes" or "Reject All Changes."

Q4: How can I view the author of each change?

To view the author of each change in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click the Review tab.

 the Review tab.

the Review tab.

Step 2: In the Tracking group, click Show Changes.

Step 3: To view the author of a change, hover over the change with your mouse. The author's name will be displayed in a tooltip.

You can also view the author of all changes in a list. To do this, click the Review tab and then click Show Changes. In the Revisions pane, click the Summary button. The Summary pane will list all of the changes in the presentation, along with the author of each change.

Summary

This guide provides a clear, step-by-step approach to effectively track changes in PowerPoint presentations, catering to the needs of content writers. It emphasizes the importance of this feature in collaborative work settings and offers personal insights for a more relatable experience. Moreover, the guide spotlights WPS Office as a powerful and user-friendly office suite, known for its compatibility and free services, further enhancing the collaborative process. By following these instructions and utilizing WPS Office, writers can significantly improve their PowerPoint editing and version control workflow.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.