tracking changes?

Scrivener Scrivener for macOS
1

I’ve been using Scrivener for a while now, but I’m still not fully versed in all its features. Right now I’m revising a novel and in need of some help. In word, I used a feature called track changes when revising. Its a simple tool that changes the font color when tracking changes is turned on. This allows me to see at a glance where I’ve made changes to the text in a document. Is there a way to accomplish this in Scrivener? I suppose I could change the font color every time I go to make an addition, but that feels tedious. I really don’t want to revise in word, but I’m finding this is something I can’t live without!
Thanks,
Jen

2

Hi,

I’m afraid there is no way of doing this in the current version of Scrivener (it’s quite a complicated feature, which is why of all the major word processors only Word and Pages - programs with large teams behind them - have it). However, 2.0 will have a “revision mode”, which will mean that any new typing is in specified colour, and also a way of showing certain differences between snapshots and the current version of the text.

All the best,
Keith

3

If this may help, I do a lot of revisioning in Scrivener, and I do it in two ways:

  1. I use markers to mark changes I do to an existing text. Different colors for subsequent sessions.
  2. I use TextWrangler (but I could use Nisus Writer) to compare single documents, when I forget to mark differences, or when someone sends me revised text with non changes marked.

Easy, effective.

Paolo

EDIT: Markers do not always translate well with other wordprocessors. So, before using them for tracking changes, I would suggest to see if they can be exchanged with you collaborators. If not, you can use text colors.

4

Thank you for your help! I’ll look forward to version 2.0.
Jen

5

ptram, I am guessing by markers you mean the different highlighting colors?

And could I ask how you compare single documents in Nisus Writer? This would be a very valuable tool for me, as I sometimes forget if I’ve made corrections to one version or another of my stuff. Other than just opening them side by side, is there another trick to this?

6

Yes. I’m sorry for the many oddities due to my bad knowledge of English (corroborated by usually writing at late night).

First of all, I receive .doc documents. Sometimes there is already text in different colors, to show the work of other reviewers.

When I add my comments, I either use highlight colors, or text colors to show my reviews. Then send the .rtf file that my collaborators can read with any wordprocessor.

Later, i receive the doc with revision added in a different colors. This is like the classic work on paper with highliters used to mark printed text.

EDIT: See what happens when writing at late nite? I guess you were asking about doing a file comparison. If so, look for a macro called “Compare documents”, either in the Macro menu, or in Nisus’ web site.

Paolo