nadinbrzezinski Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Steve version 2.0 delivered on two of those requests that some of us find almost essential, now if we could have tracking changes... nirvana. It is a pain to export to do that and re-import. On the bright side, the bookmarks might allow us to just save our space and make this less necessary. That said, please, pretty please... (And I know due to how the Dbase works I am probably asking for the moon) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astillac Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 What is "tracking changes?" Your neighborhood ignoramus, Calli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emoKid Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 What is "tracking changes?" Your neighborhood ignoramus, Calli I think the ability to view the previous revisions of a specific section. Like Time Machine for your novel. Possibly highlighting the changes as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marguerite Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 What is "tracking changes?" Your neighborhood ignoramus, Calli In Word, if you're editing a text, you can have the program mark insertions, deletions, and changes in a non-permanent way, so that when you send the file to the author (or distribute it among a work group), the next person can see clearly what changes were suggested and decide whether to accept or reject them. I'm not sure why Nadin wants to apply track changes to his own work; it's mostly used for editing, since an editor can easily misread an author's intention. Perhaps he exchanges files with critique partners or just likes to see what he's done before he commits himself. But in any case, that's what he's asking for: the ability to see an inserted passage or strikeout and, probably, to compare two versions of the same document and see what differentiates them (which is also part of the Track Changes feature). Best, Marguerite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadinbrzezinski Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 In Word, if you're editing a text, you can have the program mark insertions, deletions, and changes in a non-permanent way, so that when you send the file to the author (or distribute it among a work group), the next person can see clearly what changes were suggested and decide whether to accept or reject them. I'm not sure why Nadin wants to apply track changes to his own work; it's mostly used for editing, since an editor can easily misread an author's intention. Perhaps he exchanges files with critique partners or just likes to see what he's done before he commits himself. But in any case, that's what he's asking for: the ability to see an inserted passage or strikeout and, probably, to compare two versions of the same document and see what differentiates them (which is also part of the Track Changes feature).Best, Marguerite Editors use them, but also writers. It is a valuable thing to have, and I use it all the time in programs such as Word, Open Office and Pages... All have it. I should also mention that top tier word processors have it. It is a pain to implement since at the most basic of levels you need to create an invisible, to the user, database. That is where the pain comes. Perhaps I see it more of a use since I also wear that editor hat from time time. And yes, I self edit my own work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astillac Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I edit my own stuff as well, but I've always just made a copy of the file and then gone crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marguerite Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I edit my own stuff as well, but I've always just made a copy of the file and then gone crazy. Yes, me too. I create a backup with a comment describing the areas in which I'm about to wreak havoc. I also keep a separate manuscript (now, in v2—it used to be a Notes Group) for deleted and seriously altered text, where I copy and paste sections I'm about to destroy. And I have groups for Deleted Settings, Deleted Characters, Not Used in This Book, etc. I have to be really, really certain I'm done with something before I get rid of it. None of those things quite duplicates "Track Changes," though. Best, M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadinbrzezinski Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Yes, me too. I create a backup with a comment describing the areas in which I'm about to wreak havoc. I also keep a separate manuscript (now, in v2—it used to be a Notes Group) for deleted and seriously altered text, where I copy and paste sections I'm about to destroy. And I have groups for Deleted Settings, Deleted Characters, Not Used in This Book, etc. I have to be really, really certain I'm done with something before I get rid of it. None of those things quite duplicates "Track Changes," though. Best, M And this goes to show just how different writers work differently. I use notes and all of that, but track changes and then name the files V1, V2, V3... you get the picture. Hell, it looks like I will use this to get the first version out, and then go back to the world processors to do the hard edit, using track changes... That is the way life is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 And this goes to show just how different writers work differently. I use notes and all of that, but track changes and then name the files V1, V2, V3... you get the picture. Hell, it looks like I will use this to get the first version out, and then go back to the world processors to do the hard edit, using track changes... That is the way life is. Hi Nadin, Thanks for the request. I've already got this on the list, but as you pointed out, it is a pain to implement, so it may take a while. -Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steakpirate Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Marguerite, I think the key reason to track changes—at least for me—is simply never to lose your ideas. (And without any special work on your own part, no less) To know both what you originally meant when you first drafted the idea of a paragraph, and in its completed form. You never know what tidbits you may have snipped out, or ideas you have forgotten to cover that you might decide are important enough to the story to cover elsewhere. That's what I want out of the feature, not particularly for the aid of an editor. Because if you never ended up mentioning that the Klothenites are fuzzy, how will they know? SteakPirate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codemer Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Thanks for the request. I've already got this on the list, but as you pointed out, it is a pain to implement, so it may take a while. Does ODF support change tracking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadinbrzezinski Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Does ODF support change tracking? Yes, open office does definitely, and the latest version it also supports good looking comments. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadinbrzezinski Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Thanks Steve... and yes I realize just how much of a pain it is... why I am not going NOW!!!!!!! In fact, you may need to do a lot of testing before going live... them Databases can do weird stuff. (I may not do any programing, but I do have an inkling of what that is since I know some who are... and cursing is... not fun) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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