Word 2003: Language Format Codes

I have a fairly complex and long document with many tables prepared in Word
2003. Reviewers are tracking changes and the document is displaying multiple
language-related format entries -- Spanish, Portuguese, French, US English.
etc. -- mostly in the tables.

How do I globally remove these codes? If I select the whole document (ctl-A)
and select Canadian English language (the default) would this remove the
codes?

I have many custom styles for the tables and headings and have searched many
for odd language settings with no luck. I have also installed a Remove Hidden
Data utility but I will not run it until I am ready for final distribution
and review. This is a Microsoft utlity. Will it clean odd codes and all
comments and references to edited text?

Thoughts and opinions?

PJB

If I understand what you're trying to do is you want to eliminate all the
language related formatting messages that appear when Track Changes is used,
but do not want to change everything in the file to be Canadian English.

My answer is written assuming that the Reviewing Toolbar is displayed.
Unfortunately, these instructions will remove all the formatting, not simply
the language related formatting.

Select "Show" from that toolbar, then uncheck (by selecting) "Insertions and
Deletions". That will make all those changes disappear from view.

Now, select the check mark to the right of "Show" to display the Accept
changes pulldown. Select "Accept all changes shown". Once Word has done
that, select "Show" again and check (by selecting) "Insertions and Deletions".

That should make most of the formatting related things go away (formatting
codes associated with deleted text will remain until deletion of that text is
accepted).

Hope that this helps you.

I'm checking the knowledge base because in my large Word file, the language
associated with specific text is spontaneously changing (e.g., from English
to German, from German to English, ...,).

CAP

"PJB" wrote:

> I have a fairly complex and long document with many tables prepared in Word
> 2003. Reviewers are tracking changes and the document is displaying multiple
> language-related format entries -- Spanish, Portuguese, French, US English.
> etc. -- mostly in the tables.
>
> How do I globally remove these codes? If I select the whole document (ctl-A)
> and select Canadian English language (the default) would this remove the
> codes?
>
> I have many custom styles for the tables and headings and have searched many
> for odd language settings with no luck. I have also installed a Remove Hidden
> Data utility but I will not run it until I am ready for final distribution
> and review. This is a Microsoft utlity. Will it clean odd codes and all
> comments and references to edited text?
>
> Thoughts and opinions?
>
> PJB