Checking out a document tells the system and other users that you are working on the document. You can check out a document in 'exclusive' or 'non-exclusive' mode. Exclusive check out means no one else can make changes to the document until you check it in. Non-exclusive check out means someone else can also check out the document in a non-exclusive mode and edit it. If someone else checks in a document while you are working on it you will be notified. For instance, if you have a version 1.3 of a document and some one checks in a version 1.4, you will be notified that you have an older version.
To check out documents:
- Go to your project and click on the Documents link from the left panel
- From the actions drop-down of the document click on Checkout.
- Pick the mode - Exclusive - Yes/No.
- Select the appropriate option and then click on Submit
- The document will display the version number and the user who has checked it out.
- If checked out in exclusive mode, it will display an X next to it.
After check-out, you can keep this copy on your personal computer and make changes to it and then check it back in. When you can exclusively checked out the document, no other user can check this out till you either revert back or checkin a new document.