Content Version History

What It Does

Version History automatically saves a snapshot of your content every time you make changes. This creates a complete timeline of edits, letting you see exactly what changed, when it changed, and who made the change. If something goes wrong or you prefer an earlier version, you can instantly revert to any previous snapshot without losing your current work.

Viewing Version History

Step 1: Open the Content

Navigate to your content from the Content Hub dashboard. Click on any piece of content to open it in the viewer.

Step 2: Access Version History

1. In the sidebar, scroll down to find More Options
2. Click the dropdown to expand it
3. Click View History (the clock icon)

This opens the Version History page showing all saved versions in a timeline format.

Step 3: Browse the Timeline

The timeline displays versions from newest to oldest, with each entry showing:

• Date and time of the change
• Who made the change (user name or "System" for automated updates)
• Change type badge (Created, Updated, or Deleted)
• Change reason if one was provided (e.g., "Reverted to version from...")

The most recent version is marked with a green "Current Version" badge.

Viewing a Specific Version

To see exactly what your content looked like at a specific point in time:

1. Find the version you want to examine in the timeline
2. Click the View button next to that version
3. The Version Detail page opens, showing:

• Title at that time
• Excerpt
• SEO title
• Meta description
• Word count
• Full content body (rendered preview)

A yellow banner at the top reminds you that you are viewing a historical version, not the current content.

Comparing Versions

To see exactly what changed between two versions:

Step 1: Select Versions to Compare

1. On the Version History page, check the Compare checkbox next to two different versions
2. As you select, a yellow bar appears at the top showing your selection
3. Once you have selected exactly two versions, the Compare Selected button becomes active

Step 2: View the Comparison

Click Compare Selected to open the side-by-side comparison view:

• Left column (red header): The older version
• Right column (green header): The newer version
• Changes Summary: Lists which fields changed between the two versions

Step 3: Read the Unified Diff

Below the side-by-side view, you will see the Text Changes (Unified Diff) section. This shows:

• Removed text: Highlighted in red with strikethrough
• Added text: Highlighted in green

This makes it easy to spot exactly which words or sentences were added, removed, or modified.

Reverting to a Previous Version

If you want to restore your content to an earlier state:

Step 1: Choose the Version

You can revert from either:

• The Version History timeline (click Revert button)
• The Version Detail page (click Revert to This Version button)
• The Comparison page (click Revert to Older Version button)

Step 2: Confirm the Revert

A confirmation dialog appears asking you to confirm. Click OK to proceed.

Step 3: Review the Result

After reverting:

• The system creates a new version with the restored content (history is never deleted)
• A success message confirms the revert
• You are redirected to view your restored content
• The change reason is automatically recorded as "Reverted to version from [date/time]"

Important: Reverting does not delete any history. It creates a new version that looks like the old one. You can always revert again if needed.

What Gets Saved

Version History tracks changes to these fields:

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| Title | The main headline of your content |
| Content | The full article body (HTML) |
| Excerpt | The short summary or description |
| Meta Description | The SEO meta description tag |
| SEO Title | The title tag for search engines |
| Slug | The URL-friendly version of the title |
| Topic | The main topic or keyword |
| Word Count | Total words in the content |
| Status | Draft, Ready, Published, etc. |
| Creative Selections | Style choices like tone and format |

Note: The updated_at timestamp is excluded from tracking to avoid creating new versions every time the record is touched.

Automatic Schedule

How often are versions saved?

A new version is created automatically every time you save changes to your content. This includes:

• Manual saves from the editor
• Auto-saves while editing
• AI-powered edits and improvements
• Status changes (draft to ready, etc.)
• Publishing actions

Tips for Best Results

• Check history before major rewrites: If you are about to significantly change an article, view the current version in history first so you can easily compare later
• Use the comparison view: When reviewing changes, the unified diff makes it much easier to spot differences than reading two versions separately
• Revert is non-destructive: Do not hesitate to revert if something looks wrong. You can always revert again to get back to where you were
• Review who made changes: In team environments, the history shows which user made each change, helping you understand the edit workflow
• Pagination for long histories: If you have made many edits, use the page navigation at the bottom to browse older versions

Permissions

To use Version History features:

| Action | Required Permission |
|--------|---------------------|
| View history | Any authenticated user |
| View version details | Any authenticated user |
| Compare versions | Any authenticated user |
| Revert to previous version | content:edit permission |

If you cannot revert, contact your account administrator to request edit permissions.

Related Features

• Content Hub - Where all your content lives
• Inline AI Editing - Select text and ask Maya to rewrite it
• Content Quality Grading - Understand your content quality scores
• Publishing to CMS - Push content to WordPress, Shopify, or other platforms