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Overview

Arbiter’s version control system tracks every change to your documents, allowing you to:
  • See complete change history
  • Compare any two versions side-by-side
  • Restore previous versions instantly
  • Track who made changes and when
Version control is automatic. Every significant change creates a new version without manual action.

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How Versioning Works

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Automatic Versioning

Arbiter automatically saves versions when:
  • You make significant changes (>50 characters modified)
  • The document is idle for 30 seconds after edits
  • You navigate away from the document
  • The session ends
Automatic versions are labeled with an orange “Auto” badge.

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Manual Versioning

You can create named versions at important milestones:
1

Click Save Version

Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Cmd + S or click “Save Version” in the menu
2

Add Version Note (Optional)

Describe what changed: “Final draft after client review”
3

Version Created

Manual versions get a purple “Manual” badge
Create manual versions at key milestones: after initial draft, after each review cycle, before sending to counterparty.

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Viewing Version History

1

Open Document Menu

Click the menu icon (three dots) in the document header
2

Select Version History

Opens the version history panel
3

Browse Versions

See all versions with:
  • Timestamp (when created)
  • Type (Auto or Manual)
  • Author (who made changes)
  • Word count change
  • Version note (if manual)

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Version List

Each version shows:
FieldDescription
TimestampWhen the version was created
TypeAuto (orange) or Manual (purple)
AuthorWho made the changes
ChangesSummary of what changed
Word CountDocument length at this version

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Comparing Versions

Compare any two versions to see exactly what changed:
1

Open Version History

Access from document menu
2

Select Two Versions

Click the checkbox next to each version you want to compare
3

Click Compare

Opens the comparison view
4

Review Differences

Changes are highlighted:
  • Green = Additions
  • Red = Deletions

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Comparison Views

Older version on left, newer on right. Changes highlighted in both.
Version comparison showing title changes and content changes with added and removed text highlighted

The inline comparison view showing title changes, content changes by section, and a legend for added/removed text.

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Restoring Previous Versions

To restore an earlier version:
1

Open Version History

Find the version you want to restore
2

Click Restore

Select “Restore this version”
3

Confirm

Acknowledge that current content will be replaced
4

Restored

Document content reverts to selected version
Restoring creates a new version with the restored content. You don’t lose any history, and you can always restore back to the version before restoration.

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Version Metadata

Each version captures:
  • Content - Full document text at that point
  • Timestamp - Exact time of version creation
  • Author - User who made changes
  • Type - Auto or Manual
  • Note - User-provided description (manual only)
  • Word Count - Document length
  • Character Count - Detailed change metrics

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Best Practices

Manual Versions at Milestones

Create manual versions at key points: initial draft, post-review, final. This makes history easier to navigate.

Use Descriptive Notes

“Final draft after Smith review” is more useful than “updated” when looking back months later.

Compare Before Accepting Changes

Before accepting counterparty revisions, compare their version with your last to see exactly what changed.

Restore Strategically

Don’t restore just to see old content. Use compare view first. Only restore when you actually want to revert.

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Version Control with Collaboration

When multiple people work on a document:
  • Each person’s changes create versions attributed to them
  • Version history shows all collaborators’ contributions
  • Compare any two versions regardless of author
  • Restore to any version (with appropriate permissions)
In shared documents, establish conventions: e.g., “Alice does review, creates manual version when done. Bob then takes over.”

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Storage and Limits

  • Automatic versions: Retained for 90 days
  • Manual versions: Retained indefinitely
  • Version count: No limit on number of versions
  • Storage: Versions don’t count against document limits
Automatic versions older than 90 days are cleaned up to save storage. Important versions should be marked as manual.

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Troubleshooting

  • Check the date range filter
  • Automatic versions may have been cleaned up (>90 days)
  • Very small changes (under 50 chars) may not create versions
  • Ensure stable internet connection
  • Try refreshing the page
  • Compare different versions to isolate the issue
  • Check if you have edit permissions
  • Verify the restore was confirmed
  • Check version history (restoration creates a new version)

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Next Steps

Redlining

Track changes and revisions

Document Canvas

Full editing features