A hierarchical differential document is produced to report changes between a first and a second version of a hierarchical document. The first and second versions are received and examined, and the changes therebetween are noted. Such changes are definable as a plurality of operations. At least two of the operations are identified as being related as constituent operations of an extended operation, and the differential document is constructed to report the changes. In the differential document, for each identified extended operation, each constituent operation of the identified extended operation is associated as being part of such identified extended operation.