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Remove time stamp on tracked changes without removing author

I want to remove all the timestamps for tracked changes and comments, but leave the author of the change.  We have multiple people editing, so it is important to keep the author info, but I don't want to share the times changes were made.  I know I can remove ALL personal information, but that removes the author too, which I need to keep.  I want to remove ONLY the timestamps.

I'm not aware of any way to remove only the date and time without removing the author except by directly editing the XML. Use a copy of the original document:

  1. Download and install Notepad++ from here (It's free): Notepad++
  2. Add .zip to the file ending. Word will warn you about this, click on Yes.
  3. Expand the Zip archive.
  4. Open the word folder.
  5. Open document.xml in NotePad++.
  6. Choose Search>Replace.
  7. In the Find what: field, paste: w:date="[\d\W]*\w[\d\W]*\w"
  8. In the Replace with: field, leave it blank.
  9. In Search Mode, check Regular expression.
  10. Click on Replace All.
  11. Save the file and close Notepad++
  12. Update the Zip archive with the modified file, or simply rezip all 3 folders and the [Content_Types].xml file, setting the file ending back to .docx and open in Word.
Author of "OOXML Hacking - Unlocking Microsoft Office's Secrets", ebook now out
John Korchok, Production Manager
production@brandwares.com

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Thanks.  I was hoping to be able to just toggle a setting.  To go through that much effort would make it look like I have something to hide, which I don't, just trying not to over share.  Also, installing anything, free or not, is a non starter as we don't have administrative privileges, and our IT requires a lengthy approval process before they'll agree to install anything.

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Last updated April 22, 2024 Views 2,664 Applies to: