eScribe Document Editor (Beta)

Why Switch to the eScribe Document Editor?

Switching from Microsoft Online to the eScribe Document Editor gives Administrators the ability to edit and format document templates directly within eScribe. This eliminates the need to download templates for most editing tasks, allowing changes to be made more efficiently within the platform.

With the eScribe Document Editor, Administrators can:

Edit document content directly in eScribe
Apply formatting changes without leaving the platform
Maintain and update templates in a centralized location
Reduce the need to download and re-upload template files

Document Templates can still be downloaded at any time for reference, backup, or offline review purposes.

eScribe Document Editor: What's Different from Microsoft Word Online

The eScribe Document Editor works almost identically to Microsoft Word Online, with a few minor differences outlined below:

Icons are different — Microsoft icons replaced with similar custom ones (W for Word, E for Excel, P for PowerPoint)
Save indicator moved — no cloud in the top-left; the "changes saved" note is at the bottom of the screen
Auto-save only — Ctrl+S doesn't work; the document saves automatically (the save button is only active if a save is pending)
No download as Word/PDF from the editor — users must download from eScribe itself, or use Print → print to PDF (same limitation as Microsoft Online)
Content controls live under Insert — there's no Developer tab
Co-authoring indicator looks different — collaborators show in the top-right; live cursors with names still work the same
Chat is disabled — the in-document chat has been turned off; comments are still available

Managing Content Controls in the eScribe Document Editor

Content Controls can now be added and managed directly within a Document Template using the eScribe Document Editor. This simplifies template configuration by providing easy access to available content control options directly within the editor.

Key improvements include:

Add and manage Content Controls directly within the template.
Clearly labelled icons make available options easy to identify.
No guesswork when selecting the appropriate Content Control type.
No longer requires the Microsoft Word Developer tab to be enabled.
Reduces the need to switch between eScribe and external applications when configuring templates.

Track Changes in the eScribe Document Editor

The Track Changes feature in the eScribe Document Editor allows Administrators to review edits made to a document before accepting them into the final version. This is especially useful when multiple users collaborate on document templates, agendas, minutes, or reports.

With Track Changes enabled, users can:

View additions, deletions, and formatting changes made to a document.
See proposed edits before they are finalized.
Review changes individually or all at once.
Accept or reject changes as needed.
Maintain a clear record of document revisions during the editing process.

What Contributors Can Expect Using the eScribe Document Editor

For Contributors, the transition to the eScribe Document Editor will be seamless and familiar. Contributors can continue to perform their day-to-day document management tasks while benefiting from a centralized editing experience within eScribe.

Contributors will be able to:

Create and edit documents directly within eScribe.
Collaborate with other users on shared documents.
Use Track Changes to capture and review document revisions.
Access the most up-to-date version of a document from a single location.
Reduce version control issues by working within a centralized document environment.
Continue contributing content without needing to download and re-upload files for routine edits.