Understanding how Check In/Check Out works
This TechNote is part of a series explaining how best to use Dreamweaver's Check In/Check Out feature. Below you'll find information describing how this version control feature functions. Links to the other TechNotes in this series are listed under Additional information.
If you are not already familiar with the basic concept of Check In/Check Out, please review the first TechNote in this series, Check In/Check Out: managing a Web site in a team environment (TechNote tn_15336). Example 1 displays a site window using Check In/Check Out.
Understanding how Check In/Check Out works
Dreamweaver knows whether a file has been Checked In or Out by using .LCK files which it writes both locally and on the server. An .LCK file is a simple text file containing only the user's Check Out Name (and e-mail address, if provided).
Check Out
When a file is checked out from the remote site, an extra file is written to the local site folder. The extra file has the same name as the original file, with an added .LCK extension. The file is written in the same folder as the checked-out file. For example, checking out index.htm will generate a file by the name of index.htm.LCK in the same folder.
Dreamweaver will also write an .LCK file in the remote folder for each file that is checked out.
These .LCK files are not visible within the Dreamweaver Site window, but can be seen outside of the Dreamweaver interface or by using a different FTP application.
Check In
When a file is checked in to the remote site, the LCK for that file is deleted on the remote site. Also, the local LCK is deleted from the computer of the user who checked the file in.
When a file is checked in to the remote site, the local version of that same file will be made read-only in the local site.
Additional Information
For more introductory material about the Check In/Check Out feature, consult the other TechNotes in this series:
- Check In/Check Out: managing a Web site in a team environment (TechNote tn_15336)
- Interpreting the Site window with Check In/ Check Out activated (TechNote tn_15446)
- Understanding how Check In/Check Out works (this TechNote)
- Using the version control features in Check In/Check Out (TechNote tn_15445)
For more specific information about Check In/Check Out and site management, see:
- Sharing files among team members (TechNote tn_15361)
- How to define a site in Dreamweaver (TechNote tn_14028)
- Setting up Dreamweaver's FTP connection (TechNote tn_14787)
- Design Notes incorrectly show Checked out status in Visual SourceSafe (TechNote tn_15107)
- C++ Runtime Error in Dreamweaver 3 running on Windows 2000 (TechNote tn_14715)
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