To edit files, you check them out to your local computer. When you check out a file, Webtop locks the file in the repository so that no one else can edit it except you. Other users can view the file, but they cannot make changes to it. If you check out a file that is linked to multiple locations in the repository, the file is locked in all those locations.

When you check out a file, Webtop either copies or streams the file to your computer, depending on the file’s editing application.

If the file uses an external editing application, Webtop downloads the file to your checkout directory. You can open, and close the file directly from your checkout directory. Your modifications are not saved into the repository until you check in the file.

By default, the checkout directory is these, depending on the operating system:

If the file uses an internal editing application, then when you check out the file, Webtop streams the file directly to the appropriate editing application. The file is not copied to your computer. When you save the file in the editing application, the file is saved directly to the repository. However, the file remains checked out. To unlock the file, you must check the file back in.

To check out a file, use either the Edit command or the Check Out command. The Edit command immediately opens the file upon checkout.

Webtop displays a key icon next to the files that you currently have checked out. Webtop displays a lock icon next to the files that other users currently have checked out.

To view a list of the files that you currently have checked out, click My Files, and then click the key icon in the column headings.

You can open, edit, and close the file directly from your checkout directory, whether or not you are connected to the repository.

When a file is downloaded to your checkout directory, the file has the same name as it has in the repository, unless a naming conflict arises. A conflict arises if another file with that name already exists in checkout directory. In that case, Webtop appends a number to the name of the newly downloaded file. When the file is checked back in, it keeps its original filename, and the appended number is dropped.