Getting and Checking Out Files in Vault

There is an important difference between getting a file, checking out a specific version or revision of a file, and performing a quick checkout. Vault uses two different commands to perform these tasks: Get and Checkout.

The Get Command

Use the Get command to download a read-only copy of a file from the vault and to check out specific versions or revisions of files for editing.

• Get a read-only copy of a file – By default, the Get command retrieves a read-only version of the file from the vault and places it in the working folder. This file can be viewed but cannot be modified because it is not checked out. This means that another user could check out the file and make changes. You will not see the changes until the user checks the file back into the vault and you perform a refresh.

  You have the option of selecting a specific version or revision of a file to download, otherwise the Get operation defaults to the latest version of the file in vault-basic and the latest version of the leading revision in Vault Professional.

  The file can also be checked out by selecting the check box in the Get dialog.

• Check out a specific version or revision of a file – By default, the latest version of the file is displayed. You can select a specific version of the file in vault-basic or a specific revision of the file in Vault Professional from the history drop-down menu. If the check box is selected next to the file in the Get dialog, it is marked for Check Out. When you click OK, a read-write version (vault-basic) or revision (Vault Professional) of the file is retrieved from the vault and placed in the working folder. This file can be modified and no other user can make changes to the file while it is checked out to you.

The Checkout Command

Perform a quick checkout on a file with the Checkout command.

• 

  Quick Check Out–Use the Checkout command as a fast way to bypass the Get dialog and always check out the latest version of the file in vault-basic or the latest revision of the file in Vault Professional. The file is checked out but is not automatically downloaded to the working folder. This is known as a quick checkout.

  Note: See Understand Revisions for more information.