Tracking file acess

How can I find out if and when a word file has been
accessed or copied. Is there a journal or log entry
record anywhere?

Yes and no. Others may correct me, but as far as I know, there is no way to keep a word document open to edit and at the same time track all changes. If it can be edited, the editor can also turn tracking off. The only security is to lock the file and require changes to made in a save with a new name document. It is true you can set a document to track changes, but this requires cooperation. If others have access to this file, they can turn off that tracking, change the document, save it, and then turn it on again.

The real answer is a program like Dimensions or Sourcesafe that provides version control. Every organization should have some system that tracks document access and saves a new version everytime a document is checked back in with a change. With these programs, you can always pull up an earlier version.

Thanks, what I need to know if you can help me is whether
I can see if someone has downloaded word files and copied
them on to a floppy/CD. Is there a log somewhere that
will tell me this.
-----Original Message-----
Yes and no. Others may correct me, but as far as I
know, there is no way to keep a word document open to
edit and at the same time track all changes. If it can
be edited, the editor can also turn tracking off. The
only security is to lock the file and require changes to
made in a save with a new name document. It is true you
can set a document to track changes, but this requires
cooperation. If others have access to this file, they
can turn off that tracking, change the document, save it,
and then turn it on again.

The real answer is a program like Dimensions or
Sourcesafe that provides version control. Every
organization should have some system that tracks document
access and saves a new version everytime a document is
checked back in with a change. With these programs, you
can always pull up an earlier version.
.

No, there is no way (within Word) to track this information.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"Chris" wrote in message
...
Thanks, what I need to know if you can help me is whether
I can see if someone has downloaded word files and copied
them on to a floppy/CD. Is there a log somewhere that
will tell me this.
-----Original Message-----
Yes and no. Others may correct me, but as far as I
know, there is no way to keep a word document open to
edit and at the same time track all changes. If it can
be edited, the editor can also turn tracking off. The
only security is to lock the file and require changes to
made in a save with a new name document. It is true you
can set a document to track changes, but this requires
cooperation. If others have access to this file, they
can turn off that tracking, change the document, save it,
and then turn it on again.

The real answer is a program like Dimensions or
Sourcesafe that provides version control. Every
organization should have some system that tracks document
access and saves a new version everytime a document is
checked back in with a change. With these programs, you
can always pull up an earlier version.
.