Check-out and check-in are two important functions in a Document Management System (DMS):
- Check-Out: you are locking the document for other users and make a "Working Copy" of the document to be edited. The users will still be able to open the locked document, but they will not be able to modify the document on the DMS. You will be able to modify the "Working Copy" of the document
- Check-in: when you have finished the modifications on the document, you can check-in the document into the original document. This will update the original document, remove the "Working Copy" and unlock the original document. Now the document is again available to others for modification.
The edit offline command combines a Check-Out and the download/opening of the working copy.
The Edit Offline command in Fred will:
- Lock the file
- Make a working copy
- Download that working copy to your local drive
- Open the working copy for editing.
The working copy is copied to a Fred folder on your local hard drive. This folder is defined in settings (repository tab) of Fred.
After editing the document you can simply save the local working copy of the document.
When you want to continue working on the working copy after you have closed the local copy, you can reopen the local copy by double clicking the working copy in Fred or by clicking the "Edit Working Copy" command.
You do not need to drag and drop or upload the working copy to Fred. With the "Update Main Document" command you will:
- Upload the local working copy to Alfresco
- Update the master (locked) document with the new edited document
- Unlock the master document
With the Discard changes command you will be able to unlock the main document and remove the working copy including any changes you have applied to the document.
