Can´t keep track of changes done to a table in word.

Question

I try to keep track of all changes to a document using "Track changes", but when I try to delete a column on a table I get the following message:

"this action won't be marked as a change".

Then, you have 2 options: 

1) "Accept" and the column disappears, but there is no track of that action.

2) "Cancel", and nothing happens.

It's as if Word isn't able to keep track of those changes, but I have a document, done by someone else, that keeps track of those kinds of changes.

I simply can not find a way around this.

I´m trying to work on this using both Office 2016 and 2010 (Using older version to see if it was also a limitation back then).

Other people had tried using other versions and the same happens.

Just create a new blank document, insert a table with more than 2 columns, activate track changes and try to delete one of the columns and keep track of it. I bet you won't be able to, at least on the first try.

If you find a solution, I´ll be eager to listen to it!

Here is a screenshot of the file were someone else was able to keep track of those changes:

[

](https://filestore.community.support.microsoft.com/api/images/75c37170-8e1c-4882-8ced-1b3979616887?upload=true)

In case you may want to see the file where someone was able to do it, here you have a Dropbox link with a sample:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/17imqtcqbz8wxpq8lkeqi/Analysisa.docx?dl=0&rlkey=sf256l9r34j9r7w2r9v7yq25m

In that file you can see 3 tables:

Original version, final version and the one with track changes.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Answer 1

Hi @Max C.C

In my 2 test envirionments, one with Microsoft 365 Apps installed and the another with Office 2010 install, but I can not reproduce the results as your sharing file, as deleting cells via "Shift cells left" or "Delete entire column", theses actions will not be tracked as changes.

If you select the column > Delete Cells > Shift cells up, the content will be deleted and tracked but the column is not deleted.

Besides, I searched online, there is an article "Deleting Table Columns with Track Changes Turned On", which also said: There is no way to force Word to delete the column and track the change. This appears to be because deleting a column is too complex of an edit for Word to track. All you can do is come up with ways to work around the limitation.

If I find any updates, I will post back.

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Answer 2

Hi!

Thanks for your answer.

I found that same article, but what puzzles me the most is that someone, somehow, was able to do it... hence the file I shared.

But I can't find any way to replicate it nor does the person who gave me the file know how it was done.

But there should be an answer to this somewhere.

Answer 3

Try the Compare Document and Merge Document features.

Save the copy you receive. compare or merge it with your final.

• Compare Documents
• Combine / Merge Documents
• Compare vs. Combine - What is the difference? - video

Answer 4

Try saving the document, as received, to one name and then using either Compare Documents or Combine/Merge Documents with your final product to mark up the changes.

• Compare Documents vs Combine Documents - What is the Difference? - video

This is a workaround and one I have not tried. In Word Tables often seem to cause problems for other features.

Answer 5

I checked and Compare Document does compare tables.

That is checked by default. The screenshot shows default settings and I got to see the choices by clicking on the More button. I expect that the Combine Documents will give the same.