Understanding file versioning with Version Cue
Version Cue projects and files are kept in the Version Cue workspace on the computer where the workspace is located. The workspace maintains the master copies of files added to the project, including file versions and other file data, such as comments, version dates, and user IDs. When a user begins editing a file from a Version Cue project, the user is editing a working copy of the master file, which remains protected on the workspace. The working copy is kept and saved as it is edited in the user's My Documents/Version Cue (Windows) or Documents/Version Cue (Mac OS) folder. Intermediate changes to the working copy are saved with the Save command without creating an explicit new version of the master file. Then, when a user saves a file version using the Save A Version command, first the working copy is updated, then a new version is added to the master file stored on the Version Cue workspace. Working copies of master files in a Version Cue workspace enable multiple people to work with the most recent version of a master file. For example, if two people want to access an illustration during overlapping periods of time, Version Cue automatically lets each person work with a working copy of the most recent file version. The second person to access the illustration is informed that the file is already in use by the first person and can decide whether to continue working with the file. This ensures that everyone's access to project files is very flexible and allows workflows to proceed when circumstances require it. When more than one person works with a file, Version Cue ensures that no one will overwrite the work of anyone else in a Version Cue project. However, each user's working file won't incorporate the changes of other users who may be editing the file at the same time. When finished editing, each user is allowed to save a new version of the file with their own changes to the workspace. These users will have to reconcile their changes manually. Alternatively, the second user can start a new version thread by saving the changes to a new file with the Save As command or simply wait until the first user is finished and the file becomes available. ![]() Version Cue projects without lock protection allow nonsequential file versioning. A. Left user opens file from Version Cue workspace at 8 A.M. B. Right user opens same file from workspace at 9 A.M. C. Left user edits own working copy, choosing Save command to save changes to only their working copy. D. Right user edits their own working copy, choosing Save command to save changes to only their working copy. E. Left user chooses Save A Version command to add fourth file version to the workspace. F. Right user chooses Save A Version command to add fifth file version to the workspace; changes from left user appear only in fourth version. Alternatively, you can use the Version Cue Workspace Administration utility to assign lock protection to a Version Cue project. Lock protection restricts file versioning to sequential file versions. Once a user begins editing an available file in a Version Cue project that has lock protection, only that user can save the next version of that file to the Version Cue project. Another user who chooses to edit that file simultaneously won't be able to save changes to a new version of that file, even after the other first user has saved a version. This subsequent user will have to save their changes to a new file or to a new location on the workspace, or wait to open the newest version of the original file once it becomes available and edit it. ![]() Version Cue projects with lock protection allow only sequential file versions. A. Left user opens file A from Version Cue workspace at 8 A.M. B. Left user edits working copy, choosing Save command to save changes only to their working copy. C. Right user opens file A from workspace at 9 A.M. D. Right user attempts to, but can't, choose Save A Version command to save new file version to the workspace at 12 P.M. E. Right user saves file changes to a new file in the Version Cue project. F. Left user chooses Save A Version command to add new file version to the workspace at 4 P.M. When you open a file from a Version Cue workspace, Version Cue notifies you with an In Use By alert if someone else is editing a working copy of the file or if someone begins editing a working copy of the file while you have the file open. If someone begins editing a file from the Version Cue workspace while you are also editing the same file, you will be prompted to click one of the following: If a newer version of the file that you have open has been saved to the Version Cue project, you will be asked whether you'd like to update your document to the latest version when you attempt to make changes to it or when you bring the document window frontmost in a group of documents. You need to click one of the following: |