By Kyle Knebel
December 2024 Consultants Corner
A look at how to compare documents in the Laserfiche Web Client or Desktop Client
When it comes to versions of MS Word documents in Laserfiche, the Laserfiche client provides the ability to compare a document’s versions. It’s a feature that is found in the metadata view of the document. Please note, it is limited to the document’s versions and would not be able to compare against another separate document, unless it is uploaded and attached to the document. To take advantage of this comparison feature, the document needs to be placed under version control. This can be done with both Image documents and Electronic (ie. MS Word) documents.
To set version control on a document:
In the Windows client highlight the document, then right-click on it and on the pop-up, choose “Version Tracking > Start Tracking Versions”
In the Web Client select the document, then on the Details pane click the “Start tracking versions” link.
Here’s the steps to compare versions in the Windows client
1.) Select a document, then open the Version History dialog box in one of the following ways:
Open the Metadata dialog box or Metadata Pane for any document.
Select the Versions tab.
Open the Tasks menu and point to Version Tracking, then select Version History.
2.) The version history tab will open. Select one of the versions you want to compare, then hold down CTRL and select the other version you want to compare. If you select only one version, it will be compared to the version immediately prior to it. (For instance, if you select Version 2, the dialog box will compare Version 1 and 2.)
3.) Right-click and select Compare Changes..., or click the Compare Changes button. This will open the Compare Versions dialog box.
4.) Review the version comparison:
For Electronic documents: If the electronic file portion of the document was modified between these two versions, the electronic document will be listed as Changed. If it was not, or if there is not electronic file portion to this document, it will say No change.
For Pages: If pages were added or removed between the two versions, the pages will be listed as Changed. Click the + (expand) to display the number of pages added and/or removed.
For Text: If text was modified on text pages on the two versions, the text will be listed as Changed. Click the + (expand) button to display the pages on which text was changed.
Annotations: If annotations were added, deleted, or modified, the annotations will be listed as Changed. Click the + (expand) button to display the changes. Changes will be listed separately for annotations added, removed or modified. Click the + (expand) button for each type to see which pages contain annotations that were added, removed or modified.
Fields and Templates: If the fields and templates were modified, fields and templates will be listed as Changed. Click the + (expand) button to display whether fields and templates were added, removed, and/or modified.
If one of the changed elements of the version is a Microsoft Word electronic document, the Changed option for the Electronic Document component will be a clickable link. Click the link to open the document. The document will open with changes tracked, allowing you to review the changes made to the document between the two versions.
When you click on the “Changed” hyperlink, the document will open in MS Word and show edits, including deletions, as blue lines (even if you have MS Word “Redlining” turned on (Tracking changes for Everyone and showing All Markup).
Web Client Differences
To compare versions in the web client
1.) Select only two versions you want to compare in the version history.
2.) Click the More button and select Compare versions to view a summary of the differences between the two versions.
When comparing changed electronic files like MS Word docs, you’ll see the “Compare Changes” button when using the “Compare Versions” choice.
The displayed MS Word comparison document looks the same as when launched from the Windows Client:
This concludes our review of the built-in document comparison features!
Happy Holidays!
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