Compare and merge two versions of a document (2024)

FAQs

Compare and merge two versions of a document? ›

Merge two versions of a document

To use this feature, go to the "Review" tab, click on "Compare Files," and select the two files you want to compare. Excel will highlight any differences between the two documents, including changes to cell values, formulas, and formatting.

Click “Paste”.

If the tracked changes are not shown, click on the little “Paste options” button directly under the pasted text. Select the first option (“Keep Source Formatting”).

Open the two versions of a file that you want to compare and then from the All tools menu, select Compare files. To select another version for the old file or new file, select Change File and then select the desired version.

How does it work? Head over to https://www.draftable.com/compare. There, you'll upload your two files - the original on the left pane and the newer one on the right. Click the compare button, and voila – you'll see your two files right next to each other with every difference highlighted.

How to compare PDF files: Open Acrobat for Mac or PC and choose “Tools” > “Compare Files.” Click “Select File” at left to choose the older file version you want to compare. Click “Select File” at right to choose the newer file version you want to compare.

This is down to a mixture of the length of DNS name, user's name and path to the file being over 256 characters that Microsoft Word compare cannot deal with. This combination will make the ultimate comparison string over 256 characters and MS Word compare will fail.

Is it possible to merge two documents? ›

Open Microsoft Word and create a new blank document that will serve as your combined document. Go to the "Review" tab on the Word toolbar. In the "Review" tab, click on the "Compare" button, which is located in the "Compare" group. In the "Compare" drop-down menu, select "Combine" and then click on "Combine Documents”.

In a version control system that uses merging, each user may modify a work file at any time. The system lets you merge your work file, which may contain changes that have not been committed, with the latest changes that others have committed.

So, to summarize: use Compare with two documents that don't have revisions marked with Track Changes; use Combine with two documents that do have revisions marked with Track Changes.

Microsoft Word does provide a way to make a side-by-side comparison of two documents. If you have two versions of the same file—one earlier, one with additions, edits, and revisions—and you want to be able to track the changes made, you can use the Compare Documents feature.

Microsoft does not recommend installing multiple versions of any Office product, but it is generally possible to install and use more than one version of Office on a single Windows computer.

Go to File > History. Note: If you don't see History on your navigation pane it's possible that you actually have a subscription version of Microsoft 365. Select the Info button on the navigation pane and see if you can access Version History there. Select a version to open it in a separate window.