Collaborative Editing Workspace

Flare Online co-authoring happens in the Content Editor. All authors work collaboratively in files, with full transparency of edits from everyone in that project. Regardless of whether you are a single author or a team of authors, you will use this workspace for writing and editing files.

Workspace Diagram

When you open a project, click the Workspace tab from the main toolbar. The elements found on the Workspace page let you edit content but also provide real-time knowledge about your documentation project—such as who is editing what.

  • Cursor and selection indicators There are visual cues that display for each user, indicating that multiple people are using the file and other authors are highlighting text selections.

  • Filter The Files tree includes a filter button. Use to search project files based on file type or file status.

  • New File and Upload File(s) Buttons are located in the main toolbar, one for creating a new file and one for uploading file(s). See Adding Files and Uploading Files.

  • Workspace Overview Click the button to initiate an overview, which gives a report on the workspace. Use to manage your workspace and to identify items, such as files that are not committed, user status, and what needs to be done.

  • Status indicators The Files tree shows at-a-glance status. For example, a purple circle next to a file indicates that it has uncommitted changes.

  • User status A user's avatar or initials display in the editor's local toolbar when editing a file. Avatars of any other authors working in the file will display next to yours. Your avatar is unique because you can click the drop-down next to it and select your status from the menu.

  • Version history When editing a file, a timeline displays with a history of file commits and versions including edits. See Using Version History.

States of the Workspace

When you and other authors are editing a file, it is the same file, in a working state, for everyone. That is why you can see changes happening.

  • In Progress A file is in a non-committed state and is opened or being edited by authors. The version history indicates the file is in progress and displays the number of edits and users in the workspace.

  • Ready to Commit (Optional) A file is done being edited. The file is saved locally, but it is still a working copy and needs to be committed to the repository. Use this state if you are done editing but you notice others are still working on the file. That way you are not committing other authors' changes before they are finished.

  • Commit A user or manager can commit a final version of file changes live to the repository. The action of committing (e.g., pressing the Commit button in the dialog) saves the edits and commits changes from all users—not just your changes—to the repository. When a file is committed the user statuses are cleared.

User Status

For every author in a file, you will see each user's avatar with status in the editor's toolbar.

  • Avatar (or initials) with a purple circle This indicates a user is In Progress with a file.

  • Avatar (or initials) with ... The three-dot icon indicates that a user has a file open and is actively editing it. If you click off the current file to open a different file, the icon changes to show that you are In Progress (i.e., a purple circle).

  • Avatar (or initials) with a check mark An author is done making edits and has indicated this by selecting "Ready to Commit." The file is not committed yet. If a commit occurs, the check mark disappears and the version history shows the file as committed.

    Note If there are too many users to show each avatar in the toolbar, a three-dot icon indicates more users .