How to Change "Simple Markup" Default to "All Markup" in Reviewing/Track Changes

Question

I need help. I'm using Word 2016 and I am frustrated to no end that I cannot set "All Markup" as my default in my review pane when I use track changes. Until about a week ago, I was always able to use "All Markup" and now Word is ALWAYS setting the default as "Simple Markup." I have no idea how to install/write macros so this option is not a consideration for me. My work as an editor is being severely affected: when I set to "All Markup" and save, and then email it, it reverts back to "Simple Markup" for the person on the receiving end of my email, which means they are inadvertently missing edits because they are viewing "Simple Markup." This is crippling. Thank you for any help!

Answer 1

Key question: When you open a document containing tracked changes, what is the Display Mode set to?

The Display Mode is controlled by the installation of Word that is opening the document, it isn't a document property. In all versions of Word for Mac the default is All Markup (or Final Showing Markup, depending on version). There is no Preference or Setting that will change it.

Traditionally, Word for Windows has been the same way for a number of reasons including the one you mentioned. However, that changed in Word 2013. It now defaults to Simple Markup, ostensibly to make the document appear 'cleaner'. That has persisted into Word 2016 for Windows, as well. Please see this Microsoft hype on it:  Track changes in Word - Word

It sounds like you're exchanging documents with PC users. There is no way for you to control this on their systems... They need to be better informed about the new behavior of the software they're using.

Answer 2

Hi Bob,

Thanks so much for your reply.

I have been working for years with documents from the same people, all of whom are using MACs. The default has always been "All Markup." I updated to Word 2016 in May, and since then have continued to download Word documents from Dropbox and also open Word documents attached in emails, always getting "All Markup" as the default, until about a week or two ago when suddenly everything has switched to a "Simple Markup" default.

As an editor, I have clients who know nothing of track changes and they just need to receive the document with the markup in full view. I myself am missing edits because I have never had to scan the margins for red marks to see where edits are. When someone needs to see the edits, they need to see all of the edits. The "Simple" default doesn't make sense. But at the very least, I should have control to make the default whatever I need to function at my job. And to do my job I need "All Markup." Is there anyway i can override that "Simple Markup" default and make it "All Markup"?

I really appreciate your help! Cheers.

Answer 3

What is your exact version level of Office 2016? Does it happen to be v15.26? IOW, are you an Insider fast track participant?

If so, it may be that this is a new behavior in Mac Word resulting from Microsoft's campaign to make it more like the PC version. If that's the case, I'm afraid it's most likely a hard-coded setting - I don't believe there is any option in PC Word, either. Regardless, you cannot control how documents open on computers other than your own. Even if there is an option to change the default I'm certain it would be local to the computer, not document-specific.

I'll do some checking & will reply with what I can find out.

I'm using the general release of v15.25 & have not seen that behavior at all, nor can I force it.

Answer 4

What is your exact version level of Office 2016? Does it happen to be v15.26? IOW, are you an Insider fast track participant?

If so, it may be that this is a new behavior in Mac Word resulting from Microsoft's campaign to make it more like the PC version. If that's the case, I'm afraid it's most likely a hard-coded setting - I don't believe there is any option in PC Word, either. Regardless, you cannot control how documents open on computers other than your own. Even if there is an option to change the default I'm certain it would be local to the computer, not document-specific.

I'll do some checking & will reply with what I can find out.

I'm using the general release of v15.25 & have not seen that behavior at all, nor can I force it.

I am using MS Word 365 for MAC and have the same problem. The file jumps randomly to "Simple Markups." I have not tested it with other (MAC) users in the company because it JUST started this behavior.

Could not find any way to set it, so it will alway default to "All Markups."

As was said before - it is very detrimental to back and forth to edit process.

Answer 5

It's really important for those trying to help you to know exactly which version of Word and even which update you have. The current update is version 15.28 (or later depending on when you last updated and which update options you have chosen). To find out exactly which update you have, go to the Word menu and choose About Word.

Version 15.25 is completely obsolete, so if that is what you have, please follow these updating instructions, and then use the new version and see if Word's behavior has changed. Please let us know the results.

Make sure your Mac has a working internet connection before checking for updates. Install Mac OS X updates followed by Office updates.

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Mac OS X updates:

To get Mac OS updates, go to the App store on your dock, and then click the Updates button to reveal available updates.

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Office Updates

To get the update:

1. Open any Office application:
2. Make sure your Mac has a working internet connection
3. Go to the Help menu and choose Check for Updates
4. Let AutoUpdate check for and install updates
5. Restart your Mac