• CaseWare SmartSync
  • About SmartSync
  • Peer-to-Peer Synchronization
  • Synchronization Properties
  • The Sync Log
  • Troubleshooting SmartSync
  • Getting Started Guide
  • Specify the Default Path
  • Specify the Default Synchronization Behavior
  • Create a Sync Copy
  • Manage Sync Copies
  • Abandon Sync Copies
  • Manage the Parent File
  • Lock Documents for Exclusive Use
  • Repair a SmartSync File
  • Resolve Synchronization Conflicts
  • Work Offline

Lock Documents for Exclusive Use

With SmartSync, multiple users can work on the same file simultaneously. When you're working on a CaseView or external document in the file, you can lock it for exclusive use to prevent potential synchronization conflicts with other users. If a user attempts to access a locked document, they will instead open a read-only version until the lock is released.

Note: To maintain exclusive use of a document, you must be working online with the file.

Lock CaseView Documents

Depending on your requirements, you can lock a single CaseView document for exclusive use, or all CaseView documents in the file.

To lock a single CaseView document for exclusive use:

1. In your sync copy, open the CaseView document that you want to lock for exclusive use.
2. On the ribbon, click View | Design Mode to enable customization of the document.
3. Click Document | Settings | Client Options. In the Document Setting group, click the Lock SmartSync documents for exclusive use drop-down menu and select Yes. Click OK.

The exclusive use setting synchronizes with all other sync copies of the file. Access to the document is locked to other users until you close the document.

To lock all CaseView documents for exclusive use:

1. In your sync copy, open a CaseView document.
2. On the ribbon, click View | Design Mode to enable customization of the document.
3. Click Document | Settings | Client Options. In the Client Default group, select Lock SmartSync documents for exclusive use. Click OK.

The exclusive use setting synchronizes with all other sync copies of the file. Access to all CaseView documents is locked to other users until you close the file.

Lock External Documents

Administrators can lock external documents, such as Word and Excel, for exclusive use. Exclusive use extends to documents accessed from within a Working Papers file, for example, from the Document Manager, a document link, or an annotation.

To lock external documents for exclusive use:

1. Ensure that you have administrative privileges.
2. In your sync copy, on the ribbon, click Tools | Options | Advanced.
3. In the Synchronization group, select Enforce exclusive use of documents. Enabling this option adds an Exclusive Use of Word/Excel document add-in (CWSyncLockAddin.dll) to Word and Excel, which enforces this setting in each application. Click OK.

The exclusive use setting synchronizes with all other sync copies of the file. Access to an external document is locked to other users when you open the file, and is restored when you close the file. You can determine if your Word or Excel document is locked for exclusive use from the heading label appended to the file name.