Comparing Revisions with Word Tools
Having ServiceCenter objects documented in Microsoft Word documents gives you access to some very useful tools. In Word 2003 two of these tools are "Compare and Merge Documents" under the Tools menu and "Compare Side by Side ... " under the Windows menu.
Once you have worked in ServiceCenter for a while you will find yourself trying to remember what changes you made to a particular format control, link, script, etc. Or if you work in a team you will wonder what changes were made by another team member since the last update you made. Even if you have kept detailed notes (ha ha) it still takes a lot of time to track down the changes. These Word tools help you find the changes quickly. You will need to make a copy of the SC object before making revisions or create an "Export To Word document of the object before hand. Then create another Export To Word document after making the revisions.
Compare and Merge Documents
In Microsoft Word, Open the Export To Word document of the SC object created prior to the revision. Then select Tools | Compare and Merge Documents. Browse for the Export To Word document created after the revision. Word will compare the two documents and highlight the differences using the same mark-up used as the "Track Changes" feature. This is extremely useful in identifying changes to expressions and conditions. (This feature exists in Word 97 and Word 2000, but in different menus. You will have to search for it.)
Compare Side by Side ...
To use this tool open both the pre-revision and post-revision documents in Word. Then select Windows | Compare Side by Side with <document name>. This will display the two documents together allowing you to scroll them simultaneously. If in a format control, for instance, you have added or removed calculations, this will allow you to easily see the locations of those additions/deletions. (I have not found this feature in previous versions of Microsoft Word.)