Document Editing Problems

How to Sort or Filter Track Changes by Date in Word

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to sort or filter document track changes by a specific date using macros but is encountering execution issues.

How to Sort or Filter Track Changes by Date in Word

Product: Microsoft Word 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to review edits made on specific dates in a heavily edited document using custom macros, such as the SaveViewLocMulti template or Jay Freedman's scripts.
Observed behavior: The macro dialog closes immediately after clicking Run without displaying any output or results, and the custom template fails to execute properly.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrative rights to modify Macro security settings in Word, and always save a backup copy of your document before running custom VBA scripts.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Template Location and Run the Macro

Ensure the custom macros for filtering track changes are properly installed in the global Normal template so they can be accessed and executed.

Macros must be stored in the correct template to be accessible across your documents. Saving them to the Normal.dotm template ensures they are always available when you open Word.

Open the Macros dialog

Press Alt+F8 on your keyboard. If you are using a laptop with dual-function keys, you may need to press Alt+Fn+F8 to open the Macros window.

Check the macro location

In the 'Macros in' dropdown at the bottom of the dialog box, select 'Normal.dotm (global template)' to verify your installed macros are listed.

Run the macro

Select your specific sorting or filtering macro from the list and click the 'Run' button.

Checking Macro Output: If the dialog disappears without obvious results, check if the macro is designed to generate a new summary document or save a text file to a specific folder on your hard drive.

Solution 2

Enable Macros in Word Trust Center

Word restricts VBA macros by default for security purposes, which can silently prevent your track changes filter script from running.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for Seamless Document Review

If dealing with complex VBA macros in Microsoft Word is slowing down your editing process, consider WPS Office. It offers a highly intuitive, user-friendly Revision and Track Changes feature out of the box, completely free, and highly compatible with Microsoft formats.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .docx file containing the tracked changes.
2. Access the Review tools: Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon menu to access all revision tools.
3. Manage Revisions: Use the intuitive Track Changes panel to view, accept, or reject edits by different reviewers efficiently.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats, retaining all your existing track changes and comments seamlessly.Built-in, user-friendly Revision tools that make reviewing document edits straightforward without requiring complex VBA scripts.Lightweight and fast installation that runs smoothly across Windows, Mac, and Linux environments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't Word have a built-in feature to filter track changes by date?

Microsoft Word's native review tools only allow filtering by specific reviewers or the type of change (formatting, insertions, deletions). Filtering by specific dates is not supported natively and requires custom VBA macros.

What should I do if Alt+F8 doesn't open the macro menu?

On many modern laptops, the function keys share multimedia controls. You may need to press the 'Fn' key simultaneously, making the correct keyboard shortcut Alt+Fn+F8.

Why does my macro dialog disappear without showing results?

The macro might be executing silently in the background, or your macro security settings might be blocking it. Ensure macros are enabled in the Trust Center and verify if the VBA code is programmed to output results to a separate file or a new document.

Can I save custom macros to a specific document instead of the Normal template?

Yes, you can save macros directly to a specific .docm (macro-enabled document) file. However, if you want to use the date-filtering macro across multiple different files, saving it to the global Normal.dotm template is required.

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