Abstract

A version management system for storing and retrieving changes to spreadsheet and word processor documents on a digital computer. The version management system is preferably integrated into the interface of existing spreadsheet or word processing software to permit a user to access a plurality of versions of spreadsheet or word processing documents. An original version of each document and all alternative versions are stored in a delta format, i.e., storing only the differences from a prior document version, in a common difference data file and version data file. A delta-formatted document will generally require less storage than an entire alternative version. Additionally, this delta formatting facilitates generating difference reports that emphasize the differences between multiple versions of a document. These difference reports are of particular value when applied to spreadsheet and word processing documents.