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Do you need to change the reviewer name on your Word for Mac documents? Whether you need to modify the review history or update the author name, this task can be challenging if you haven’t done it before. But don’t worry! In this post, we will guide you through simple methods to change reviewer name on Word Mac.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Changing Reviewer Name on Word Mac
When you create and edit a document in Word for Mac, your review history automatically saves every change made by different reviewers. However, sometimes you need to change the name of the reviewer or the author of the document to maintain accurate records. But Word for Mac doesn’t make it easy by offering a direct option to change the reviewer name in the software. Therefore, you need to use some workarounds for this task.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before you start changing the reviewer name on your Word for Mac documents, make sure you have the latest version of the software installed on your Mac and have these things ready:
- Access to a computer with Word for Mac
- Access to the document you want to modify
- Alternative reviewers’ names to change to
Method 1: Using “Inspect Document” Feature
The first method to change reviewer name on Word Mac is to use its built-in "Inspect Document" feature and then remove personal information. Here are the detailed steps:
- Open the Word document you want to change the reviewer name on your Mac
- Click on "File" in the menu bar and select "Properties" at the bottom of the dropdown menu
- Select "Advanced Properties"
- Click on the "Custom" tab and locate the "Comments" property
- Here, click on "Remove All" to remove all the comments and reviewer’s name
- Once done, select "OK" and return to the document
- Click on "Tools" in the menu bar and select "Protect Document" from the dropdown list
- Click on "Remove personal information from this file on save" and select "OK"
- Now, save the document by pressing "Command + S" on your keyboard
- Congratulations! You have changed the reviewer name on the Word Mac document
Pros:
- A built-in feature that doesn’t require any third-party software
- Ensures the review history of the document is erased completely
Cons:
- Removes all personal information, including comments and revisions made by other reviewers
- Doesn’t allow you to change the name to something specific, only as "Author"
Method 2: Using Terminal
The second method to change reviewer name on Word Mac is to use Terminal on your Macbook. Here are the steps:
- Launch Terminal on your Macbook via "Spotlight Search"
- Copy and paste the command given below:
defaults write com.microsoft.Word BookmarksDirty -bool true - Press Enter
- Open the Word document you want to modify
- Click on "File" in the menu and select "Properties"
- Click on the "Summary" tab
- Change the value of the "Author" field with your preferred name
- Select "OK" and "Save" the changes
- Close the file
- Launch Terminal again and copy and paste the command given below:
defaults write com.microsoft.Word BookmarksDirty -bool false - Press Enter
- You’re done! You have successfully changed the reviewer name on Word for Mac.
Pros:
- Allows you to input a custom reviewer name as per your preference
- A straightforward and easy process for those familiar with Terminal commands
Cons:
- Requires you to manage a command-line interface
- If you’re not comfortable with command lines, this method can be complicated and tedious
Method 3: Using a Third-Party Software
If you’re still struggling to change the reviewer name on your Word for Mac document, you can consider using a third-party software called "PDFelement." Here are the steps to change the reviewer name on Word Mac through PDFelement:
- Download and install PDFelement on your Mac
- Launch the software and select the "Open File" option on the main menu
- Select the Word document you want to modify and click on it to open
- Click on the "Protect" option and then select "Markups" from the dropdown
- Click on the "Remove All Markups" option in the same dropdown
- Navigate to the "Page" icon located at the bottom-left corner of the software and choose "Header & Footer"
- Select the "Add" option and enter your preferred name in the "Author" field
- Save the document by pressing "Command + S" on your keyboard
- That’s it! You’ve successfully changed the reviewer name in Word for Mac
Pros:
- Easy and simple user interface that doesn’t require complex commands or knowledge
- Allows you to customize your reviewer name as per your preference
Cons:
- Requires installation of additional software
- PDFelement isn’t a free software unless you opt for the trial version
Why Can’t I Change the Reviewer Name on Word for Mac?
1. You don’t have the latest version of Word for Mac installed
Fix: Make sure you have the most recent version of Microsoft Word for Mac downloaded from the official Microsoft website.
2. The document is locked or protected
Fix: Check if the document has restricted editing enabled or is password-protected. Remove the password and unprotect the document.
3. You’re unable to locate the "Properties" option on Word Mac
Fix: Right-click on the Word document, choose "Get Info", and the "Properties" window will pop up.
Additional Tips
– To avoid confusion, always keep a record of the original author name and the new author name you have changed it to.
– Always ensure that the content of the review is consistent with the modified author name.
5 FAQs about Changing Reviewer Name on Word Mac
Q1: Can I change multiple reviewer names at once in Word for Mac?
A: Unfortunately, you can’t edit multiple reviewer names at once in Word for Mac. You’ll need to go through each document individually to make changes.
Q2: Can I change the author name for specific parts of the document in Word?
A: Yes! You can change the author name for specific parts of the document in Word by using the "Track changes" feature.
Q3: How can I ensure that my edited document doesn’t reflect past reviewers’ names?
A: You can ensure that an edited document doesn’t reflect past reviewers’ names by using the "Inspect document" feature in Word for Mac.
Q4: Can I use PDFelement to modify reviewer names in other file formats besides Word documents?
A: Yes! PDFelement can modify reviewer names in various file formats like PDF, Excel, and PowerPoint, among others.
Q5: Can I use Terminal to change reviewer names in other applications on my Mac?
A: Yes! You can use Terminal to modify reviewer names in different applications on your Mac. However, this may require more detailed knowledge of Terminal commands.
In Conclusion
Changing reviewer names on a Word for Mac document can be a frustrating task, but not when you know the right methods. From inspecting the document to use PDFelement or Terminal, the methods discussed above are straightforward and easy for anyone to execute. So, follow the above steps and modify your reviewer name on Word Mac documents with ease.