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Document comparison, also known as redlining or blacklining, is a computer process by which changes are identified between two versions of the same document for the purposes of document editing and review. Document comparison is a common task in the legal and financial industries.

The software-based document comparison process compares a reference document to a target document, and produces a third document which indicates (by colored highlighting or by differing font characteristics) information (text, graphics, formulas, etc.) that has either been added to or removed from the reference document to produce the target document.

Common documents formats for comparison include word processing documents (e.g. Microsoft Word), spreadsheets, presentations (e.g. PowerPoint), and Portable Document Format (PDF) documents.

Overview

In the broadest definition, document comparison can refer to any act of marking changes made between two versions of the same document and presenting those changes in a third document via a graphical user interface (GUI). There are several variants in the types of changes registered through the process of document comparison. Some programs limit comparison to solely text and table content in word processing documents, while others register changes made in spreadsheets and presentations, along with changes made in versions of PDF documents. Certain programs also exist that compare changes made to objects like JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PNG images embedded in documents, and plain text files.

Document comparison solutions mark changes made to the following types of documents:

Word processing documents	Text in paragraphs and in text boxes; bullets and numbering; tables of content; applied styles; design and layout elements; tables, including additions and deletions of rows; embedded objects ; inserted images.
Spreadsheets	Values; formulas; additions and deletions to rows and columns, applied styles; design and layout elements.
Presentations	Text, table, image and other changes.
PDF Documents	Text, table, image and other changes.

It is common for document comparison software vendors to present forms of the compared document in separate windows in a GUI. Each window contains the following items and the various windows are displayed on one or more computer display monitors:

the original document
the modified document
the redline (or comparison) document, and
the list of changes made between document versions.

Presentation of changes made between document versions are also traditionally customizable. While one standard display of showing deletions with red underlines and additions with blue underlines is still used by many document comparison products, some programs allow users to customize the presentation of changes in the redline/comparison document. U.S. contract lawyers typically show deletions as red strikethrough text (red text with a line crossing off the words being deleted) and additions with red underlines.

History

Prior to personal computers, document comparison entailed the printing of two versions of a single document and reviewing those hard copies in detail for changes and version amendment. Included in this process were the potential for human error and the expansive administrative time necessitated by this arduous process. A ruler was used with a red pen to draw strike-through lines of deleted text and double-underline inserted text. The term "redline" came from using a red pen on the original/current version. When the document was placed in a copy machine, the copies came out black, thus the term "blackline."^[1]

With the advent of personal computers and the ubiquity of word processing software, the need arose to find a way to manage changes made to document versions shared via disk, and later email. The importance of mitigating risks associated with potential document changes became essential as the amount of document and revision sharing increased. Early document comparison software solutions provided robust document review, checking all the text in two documents for changes, and then presenting those changes in a third redline/comparison version.^{[citation needed]}

As documents changed and evolved, so did document comparison solutions. Software began utilizing tables to manage a multiplicity of document layouts. Many document comparison solutions had difficulty comparing tables in document versions. These solutions first converted tables to text arrays and then compared the created arrays. In many cases, not enough due diligence on the software’s part was conducted; users would not be informed of sections that were not successfully compared. In the second generation, Microsoft’s Track Changes option was also introduced. With Track Changes, all changes made to documents were captured and stored inside the document. Flaws in the functionality of Track Changes could render the documents unusable and some comparison offerings again had difficulty managing the complex process of comparing in a Track Changes environment.

Before third generation technology, it was common for organizations to be required to use multiple documents for one product. A main document with various supporting documents would be used to present and share necessary information. However, later software (especially Microsoft Word) enabled multiple types of information to be presented in a single document. Compound documents could include text, tables, and various styles, and could also include a range of embedded objects, such as Excel, Visio, ChemDraw, and SmartDraw objects, and inserted images in a range of types (including jpg, tiff, bmp, and gif). While this enhancement greatly increased the usefulness of documents, it added an entirely new layer of risk to organizations that needed to fully understand changes made to document versions. The majority of document comparison software programs have not yet included mechanisms to mitigate the risk related to changes inside of embedded objects. The software program that can compare changes made in embedded objects provides pixel-to-pixel comparison of images and cell-level comparison of embedded Excel spreadsheets and other changes made to these complex, compound documents.

Business relevance

Document comparison provides a method of quality assurance. Individuals and organizations are able to assure that changes requested have been integrated properly into documents. Additionally, document comparison provides assurances that no unwarranted changes were made.

Document comparison in the legal industry

Lawyers and legal professionals regularly share documents with opposing counsel. As the documents constructed in this business vertical may be binding on either side's clients, it is essential that the risks associated with changes are completely mitigated. If opposing counsel makes a change that is not detected by the lawyer, such a change could negatively affect the lawyer's client and the lawyer could be liable for the damages.

Document comparison in banking, finance and accounting

Professionals in the banking, finance and accounting industries manage large amounts of data in spreadsheets. As one change to a value or formula could affect a substantial amount of data, these professionals find document comparison (such as comparison of two versions of a MS Excel spreadsheet) to be extremely useful in assuring accuracy in document change management.

Creative media management and publishing

Professionals in these industries regularly work with multiple versions of single documents. Document comparison software helps these professionals ensure that all changes have been acceptably integrated into latest versions and provides them with a speedy understanding of changes made in editing and versioning of the documents they work with.

References

^ Diane McCullough - Former Legal Secretary, Personal Experience

Kennedy, Dennis M.; Mighell, Tom (2008). The Lawyer's Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies: Smart Ways to Work Together. American Bar Association. ISBN 978-1-59031-979-6.
Heiser, Jay (2005). Recognize the Risks of Uncontrolled Spreadsheets. Gartner.