What's the Real Story with Word's Comments and WriteRAP?

Word's Comment and Tracked Changes functions are widely used and relied-upon in our editorial processes, and they can be used in WriteRAP the same as in any Word document. We use them particularly because (as of Word 2002) they allow us to insert comments and track our changes without affecting the flow of the text.

However, there is a limitation to both these tools that we tend to overlook but which becomes apparent when used in a high-fidelity WriteRAP Word document: they do not entirely avoid reflow. When a comment or tracked change balloon is inserted in a document, Word creates a fake extended page margin to allow extra space to fit the balloon in... but it also expects to use space within the actual page margin.

When the page margin is already generous, we don't notice that this has happened, but it does happen, every time. And if the page margin is not generous -- if the design is "tight" -- then leaving comments and tracked changes visible will cause text reflow. The reflow clears itself up when the view is changed to show only final text (without the balloons), but if the balloons are showin', the text is reflowin'.

So while the use of track changes and comments is encouraged, just be aware of the this consequence.