How to Find the Original Author of a Word Document
In today’s digital age, it is not uncommon to come across Word documents that have been shared, copied, or modified multiple times. However, identifying the original author of such documents can be a challenging task. Whether you need to credit the original creator or simply out of curiosity, this article will guide you through the process of finding the original author of a Word document.
1. Check the Document Properties
The first step in finding the original author of a Word document is to examine its properties. To do this, follow these instructions:
1. Open the Word document.
2. Click on the “File” tab located in the upper-left corner of the screen.
3. Select “Properties” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the “Summary” tab, you will find the “Author” field, which displays the name of the person who created the document.
2. Look for a Document History
If the “Author” field in the document properties does not provide the information you need, you can try to find a document history. This method is particularly useful if the document has been shared among multiple users.
1. Open the Word document.
2. Click on the “File” tab.
3. Select “Info” from the dropdown menu.
4. Look for the “Track Changes” option on the right side of the screen.
5. Click on “Show All Properties.”
6. Scroll down to the “Document Information” section, where you may find a “History” field that lists the names of users who have opened or modified the document.
3. Use the “Track Changes” Feature
If the document has been modified by multiple users, you can use the “Track Changes” feature to identify the original author. This feature allows you to view all changes made to the document, including the names of the users who made them.
1. Open the Word document.
2. Click on the “Review” tab.
3. In the “Tracking” group, click on “Show Markup.”
4. Select “All Markup” to view all changes made to the document.
5. Look for the “Insertion” or “Deletion” comments that indicate the author’s name.
4. Consult the Source Document
If you have access to the original source document or a version of it, you can use it to identify the original author. This method is straightforward but may not be applicable if the source document is unavailable.
1. Open the source document or a previous version of the Word document.
2. Check the document properties as described in the first section of this article.
3. Compare the author’s name with the information in the document you are currently working with.
5. Use External Tools
In some cases, you may need to use external tools to find the original author of a Word document. These tools can analyze the document’s metadata and provide information about its origin.
1. Download and install a third-party tool designed to extract metadata from Word documents.
2. Open the Word document with the tool.
3. Review the extracted metadata for information about the original author.
By following these steps, you should be able to find the original author of a Word document. Remember that this process may not always yield the desired results, especially if the document has been heavily modified or if the author’s information has been intentionally concealed.
