Q: I was handed a budget and asked to analyze to be sure the final version is correct.  Time is of the essence, and large sums of money are involved.  How do I compare this with the original version and ensure accuracy – but fast!?

A: You could print out the documents, use a ruler and read through line by line to find where they deviate.  This will 1) take more time, 2) take up more space and 3) use more paper.

Instead, take advantage of a little-known feature of MS Word and MS Excel:         “Compare Side-by-Side”.  Here’s how it works:

Open both versions of your document.  Go to “Window”, then “Compare Side-by-Side”.  You can choose vertical or horizontal orientation.   Now scroll through one document – the other will scroll with you.  You can do a quick visual check and spot the differences in budget or text.

For long documents with only minor changes you need to spot right away, “you can” compare the versions quickly and efficiently.  I hope this helps!