This week we’re talking about Revision Mode: how to use it, what it’s good for, and how it differs from Word’s Track Changes.
To go into Revision Mode go to Format -> Revision Mode, and chose which revision you’re working on. We’ll start with First Revision.
After choosing First Revision, you’ll get a pop-up window explaining that you’re entering Revision Mode. Go ahead and click Ok.
With a plea for Melville’s forgiveness, here’s what chapter one of Moby Dick looks like with some First Revision edits made (you can see they appear in red):
From what I understand, this is SUPER useful if you’re co-writing something with a partner. Because they can easily see what you’ve changed. Then they can go into Second Revision mode and all the changes THEY make will appear in blue. And so you can pass it back and forth easily.
A Few Things To Note
You can export the whole thing to Word with the colors intact by going to File -> Compile. Click form the drop down menu at the top to export to Word. Click the settings wheel. And then make sure that the check box for “remove all text color” is NOT clicked.
It is worth noting that Revision Mode is different from Track Changes in Word in one significant way: you don’t get the little balloon in the sidebar alerting you to where changes have been made, allowing you to accept or reject the change. If you use Word, this will look familiar:
That said, something you can do in Scrivener, that you can’t do in Word, is to save versions as you go.
Scrivener Snapshots
With Scrivener Snapshots, you can save a copy of your draft at any point, label it, and keep it safe for future reference (or to revert back to). Click here to read a detailed post on Snapshots.
Let’s say I’ve done two rounds of edits, the first in red, second in blue, and I have saved Snapshots before starting in on the second round. I can click on the saved version called First Revision in the snapshot menu and the click Compare.
In the Inspector Window, I will get something that looks a lot like track changes does in Word, so that I can review where changes were made:
Wrapping Up Revisions
When you’re all done revising, save a Sanpshot of your work and label it in whatever way will help you remember where you are in your process.
Then go to Format -> Revision Mode -> None.
Then Select All and click to change your font color to black:
You could also export it and check the box in the export settings to remove text color (see above).
Or, you know, just print it on a black and white printer.
C.Winspear says
Be great if we could see what was deleted in a revision too, MS word style.
Sally Brandle says
Agreed. I just decided to not use Scrivener for that very reason. I need my editor to see what I think should be deleted. That way, she can add back in or not. Very disappointed Scrivener doesn’t allow the deletion boxes.
April says
Yes, I can see how that’s a deal killer. At least you know, so you won’t waste time trying to make something work when it doesn’t.
JD says
You can select two snapshots and compare them. It’ll show what was deleted with strikethroughs and was was added with underlines and a different color.
April says
Awesome. Thanks JD!
R.D. Hayes says
I’m not able to find a revision mode in my Scrivner. I am using Windows and wonder if this is the reason.
April says
Windows is slightly different. Sorry I’m not much help on that front. If you’re really stuck, contact Literature and Latte. They have a great support team.
Lauren Brown says
This is incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for explaining this feature.
April says
So glad it was helpful.
Cheers!
Livia Quinn says
As always such thorough posts about using Scrivener, April. I’ve been using S since 2007 and I still learn something new from you each time. Scrivener just does SO much so many ways. I think it’s important that you mentioned how to end the revision process by clicking it off and then changing the color to black. I’ve left that part off a couple of times and it does create more work.
Happy Thanksgiving
April says
Thanks Livia. Yes, I’m still learning too. This series of posts is actually helping me to dig in and tackle a few of the things I knew Scrivener could do, but never tried myself. It’s awesome.
Migdalia Torres says
Thank You for helping out with Scrivener. I purchased Scrivener after Winning the 2012 NaNoWriMo with The Diary of Camp Better Place Station and I am still learning how to use it. Once again Thank You for your Blog.
April says
So glad it’s helpful. Congrats on your win. I think you’ll find that it’s pretty easy to use. I (clearly) love it.