PowerPoint: Track changes - how it works

Tracking changes in PowerPoint is unfortunately not as easy as in Word or Excel. However, you can also track changes in the presentation program, even if the procedure is somewhat cumbersome.

Track changes in PowerPoint using comments

The following procedure relates to PowerPoint 2010.

• After making changes to a slide, click the Review tab.
• Then select the "New Comment" button in the "Comments" section of the ribbon.
• In the comment field, you can then outline the changes made in key words.
• Since the comment field is already provided with the name of the respective processor and the date, the changes made can be tracked relatively well later.

Track changes in PowerPoint with the compare function

As a second option, you can track the changes made in a PowerPoint presentation using the "Compare" function.

• To do this, first make a copy of the original PowerPoint file and save it under an appropriate name.
• The presentation can then be edited. If you then want to track the changes made, first open the original file.
• Then click on the "Check" tab and go back to the "Compare" section.
• In the "Compare" section, choose the "Compare" button and then search for the PowerPoint file that you edited later.
• Then click on the "Revision area" button in the "Compare" section. You will then see all newly edited slides with the changes and comments made.
• If you want to apply modifications, click the "Accept" button in the "Compare" section and decide which changes you want to apply.

If you no longer like the previous design of the presentation, you can quickly change the slide design in PowerPoint. How you can also track changes in Excel and Word can be read in the next practical tips.