Advanced techniques for using Microsoft Office and My Docs Online
For users who need to share the frequent updating or editing of Word or Excel files, the ability of the WebDAV protocol used by MS Web Folders to “lock” a file while a user has the file open for update provides a simple yet powerful way to share editing responsibilties for a given file, without having to worry about the “intervening update” problem.
“Intervening updates” refers to the situation where user “A” opens a particular file for update, and before the file can be updated and saved user “B” also opens the same file. Whichever user saves the file last will wipe out the other user’s changes.
The WebDAV protocol supported by the My Docs Online server includes a provision for “Locking” a file, and Microsoft Office applications “know” how to keep a My Docs Online file locked while it is being edited. All that is required is to open the Office file via Microsoft’s Web Folder support, either directly via the Office File Open dialog, or by locating the Web Folder and then the file via Windows Explorer and opening the file to launch Office.
If user number two attempts to open the same file at the same time, he or she will be notified that the file is open and locked, and he or she will be offered a “read-only” copy of the file. When the first user closes the file the “lock” is released so user number two can open, and edit, the file.

For users who need to share the frequent updating or editing of Word or Excel files, the ability of the WebDAV protocol used by MS Web Folders to “lock” a file while a user has the file open for update provides a simple yet powerful way to share editing responsibilties for a given file, without having to worry about the “intervening update” problem.

“Intervening updates” refers to the situation where user “A” opens a particular file for update, and before the file can be updated and saved user “B” also opens the same file. Whichever user saves the file last will wipe out the other user’s changes.

The WebDAV protocol supported by the My Docs Online server includes a provision for “Locking” a file, and Microsoft Office applications “know” how to keep a My Docs Online file locked while it is being edited. All that is required is to open the Office file via Microsoft’s Web Folder support, either directly via the Office File Open dialog, or by locating the Web Folder and then the file via Windows Explorer and opening the file to launch Office.

If user number two attempts to open the same file at the same time, he or she will be notified that the file is open and locked, and he or she will be offered a “read-only” copy of the file. When the first user closes the file the “lock” is released so user number two can open, and edit, the file.