Enable Write Protection in File System
TeamDrive offers two different ways to lock files and inform other Space members, that a file is currently in-use.
Soft-locking
is the default file locking feature offered by TeamDrive. Soft-locking simply shows a lock icon on a file, to let users know another user currently has the file open and has saved changes. Soft-locking, however, allows other users to save changes to a file, while the file is soft-locked by another user.
Hard-locking
on the other hand, does the same as soft-locking, except other users are only allowed to open the file as read only. For Mac OS X this feature only functions in conjunction with MS Office applications. On Windows, this feature should function with all files.
Soft and hard-locks
function automatically only if the application you are using to open a file uses file handles. Some applications, for example text editors, use files handles when reading or writing a file but not when editing a file (in this case, the user should manually activate a soft/hard lock by hovering the mouse over the file, in TeamDrive, and clicking on the lock symbol). Once TeamDrive has realized that changes have been saved to a file, TeamDrive checks to see any file handles for the file are still in use. If file handles for the file are still in use, a soft/hard lock will activated. If file handles for the file are not in use, a new version will be uploaded to the server.
Since applications generally behave differently from one another, you may receive a notification that a file is hard-locked while trying to open or save a file. For example, on Windows you will receive a notification that an MS-Office file is hard-locked when you try to open the file, whereas you will receive a notification that a .txt file (when using a text editor) is hard-locked when you try to save the file.
Hard-locking needs to be enabled only for a Space.
To enable hard-locking globally
- Go to the client settings > advanced > enable write protection in file system.
- This, however, applies to all Spaces created AFTER this point.
For Spaces created before this setting was enabled
and to simply enable hard-locking for individual Spaces, please do the following.
- Go to active Spaces.
- Hover the mouse of the desire Space and click on “i” > advanced > click “enable write protection in file system” at the top.