Managing files with WebDAV (Photoshop)

Managing files with WebDAV (Photoshop)

Photoshop supports the Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning ( WebDAV ) server technology Using this technology you can connect to a WebDAV server download and upload files lock files so others cannot work on them at the same time as you and add additional files (called assets) to the server Use a WebDAV server to work in a collaborative environment without fear that files will be accidentally overwritten or updates lost. About workgroup management

When working in a collaborative environment users must share files. The process of passing files from one collaborator to another involves working with a workgroup Controlling the hand-off-so that only one person can edit a file at any given time- is called workgroup management

A WebDAV server provides workgroup management via the Web. When a file is managed by a WebDAV server multiple users can download copies of the file but only one user at a time can check out the file. The user who checks out the file can share his or her work with other users by updating the file on the server however other users can t make changes to the managed file until it is checked in. This check out/check in system allows multiple users to access the same file but prevents users from overwriting each other s work. Getting started with workgroup management

To use the workgroup management features in Photoshop you must be able to connect to a WebDAV server. You can find detailed information and the latest news about WebDAV at www.webdav.org.

Important: Firewall software can interfere with the process of connecting to a WebDAV ser ver Check with your system administrator or refer to your firewall software documen- tation for information about setting options to access outside ser vers.

You can also set preferences to determine whether or not the Workgroup pop-up menu appears and the default behavior for checking out and updating files. To set up a server for use with Photoshop:

Choose File > Workgroup > Workgroup Servers.

Specify a folder in which you want to store local copies of managed files. To change the default location click Choose and specify a different folder Click Show to locate a folder in the Windows Explorer or the Mac OS Finder.

Note: The path you choose here is used for all ser vers you want to add Changing this path does not change the location of files on existing ser vers.

Select the WebDAV server you want to use or do one of the following:

To add a new server to the list click New Server specify a unique server nickname and

URL and click OK.

To edit a server in the list click Edit Server. To view the folder where local copies of managed files are stored click Advanced Options then click Show.

To remove a server from the list click Remove and then click OK to the warning message.

Click Done.

To set workgroup management preferences:

Do one of the following:

In Windows and Mac OS 9.x choose Edit > Preferences > File Handling.

In Mac OS X choose Photoshop > Preferences > File Handling.

Do one of the following:

To show the Workgroup pop-up menu at the bottom of the application window

(Windows) or document window (Mac OS) select Enable Workgroup functionality.

To hide the Workgroup pop-up menu deselect Enable Workgroup functionality.

Select one of the following options for Check Out from Server:

Never to open the local copy of the file without displaying a dialog box and without checking it out.

Always to automatically check out the file when you open it.

Ask to display a dialog box when you open a file that is not checked out.

Select one of the following options for Update from Server:

Never to open the local copy of the file without displaying a dialog box and without downloading the latest version of the file from the server.

Always to automatically download the latest version of the file from the server.

Ask to display a dialog box asking if you want to download the latest version.

Logging on and off WebDAV servers

Different WebDAV servers have different authentication requirements Some servers require you to enter a user name and password for every transaction other servers require authentication only once per session. When the Authentication dialog box appears enter your user name and password.

To log off all WebDAV servers:

Choose File > Workgroup > Logoff All Servers.

Opening managed files

To view a managed file open a copy of the file from a WebDAV server. The File > Workgroup > Open command creates a local copy of the file on your hard drive.

After you have a local copy of a file you can revert it to the version of the file on the server

(for checked out files) or update it with changes from the file on the server (for non- checked out files) Reverting and updating permanently discard all changes you ve made to the file.

To open a managed file:

Choose File > Workgroup > Open.

Select a server a directory and the file you want to open.

Do one of the following:

Click Check Out if you want to open and check out at the same time (See "Checking files out and in on section 84

Click Open if you want to open a local copy without checking it out.

To revert a checked out file to the version on the server:

Open your local copy of the file.

Do one of the following:

Choose File > Workgroup > Revert.

Choose Revert from the Workgroup pop-up menu at the bottom of the application window ( Windows) or document window (Mac OS).

To update a non-checked out file from the version on the server:

Open your local copy of the file.

Do one of the following:

Choose File > Workgroup > Update.

Choose Update from the Workgroup pop-up menu .

Checking files out and in

Checking out a file prevents other users from making changes to it on the WebDAV server. When you re finished making edits check in the file to update your changes to the server and release your lock on the managed file.

To check out a file:

Do one of the following:

To check out the file that you already have open choose File > Workgroup > Check Out. Alternately choose Check Out from the Workgroup pop-up menu at the bottom of the application window ( Windows) or document window (Mac OS).

To open and check out a file at the same time choose File > Workgroup > Open. Then, locate and select the file and click Check Out (See "Opening managed files on

page 84

To verify if a local file is available for check out:

Open your copy of the file.

Choose File > Workgroup > Verify State or choose Verify State from the Workgroup pop-up menu.

To check in a file:

Do one of the following:

To check in the file and update changes to the server choose File > Workgroup > Check In Alternately choose Check In from the Workgroup pop-up menu.

To check in the file without updating changes to the server choose File > Workgroup > Cancel Check Out Alternately choose Cancel Check Out from the Workgroup

pop-up menu.

Saving changes to the server

While you have a file checked out you can save changes to the managed file on the server. This allows you to share your work with other users without giving up your lock on the file. To save changes to the server:

Open your local copy of the file.

Do one of the following:

Choose File > Workgroup > Save.

Choose Save from the Workgroup pop-up menu at the bottom of the application window ( Windows) or document window (Mac OS).

Adding files to the server

Adding a file to a WebDAV server initiates workgroup management for the file in other words you create a managed file by adding it to a server.

To add a file to a WebDAV server:

Open the file you want to add to the server.

Do one of the following:

Choose File > Workgroup > Save As.

Choose Save As from the Workgroup pop-up menu at the bottom of the application window ( Windows) or document window (Mac OS).

Choose a server from the pop-up menu then locate the directory to which you want to save the file.

Type in a filename in the Name text box and choose a format from the Format pop-up menu.

Note: Be sure to specify a file extension if the file will be downloaded to a computer running a Windows operating system.

To check out the file select Keep This File Checked Out for Editing.

Click Save.