File locking is a feature provided in Autodesk Docs to prevent multiple processes or users from modifying the same file simultaneously.
Desktop Connector will make an attempt to automatically lock a file upon opening and then automatically unlock it when it is closed. When a file is locked, it is temporarily reserved for exclusive use by one user, preventing other users from making conflicting changes.
Automatic file locking is designed to only lock the file you opened directly, files that are referenced in the file being opened will NOT be locked.
The Status attribute column will display a lock icon depending on whether you or another member locked the file.
Icon |
Label |
Description |
---|---|---|
Locked by you |
You locked the file. Other members can open the file read-only, however they can't modify the contents while it's locked. |
|
Locked by another member |
This file is locked by another project member. You can open the file read-only, however you can't modify its contents while it's locked. |
Starting with Desktop Connector version 16.10.x (and above) you can manually lock or unlock files directly from Windows File Explorer.
Right click on a file and choose Lock/Unlock from the Desktop Connector menu. (Shown in Windows 10)
To access the Desktop Connector Menu in Windows 11, you will need to first choose "Show more options":
When you open a file, it will Automatically Lock to prevent other members from making conflicting modifications to the same file. If you open a file that is locked by someone else, Desktop Connector will set the local file as read-only to prevent you from making any modifications.
Automatic file locking support can vary depending on how the authoring program opens files.
If Desktop Connector cannot lock the file in Autodesk Docs, you may receive the following warning:
If a file does not automatically lock when it is opened, consider manually locking the file before you edit to avoid conflicts.
If a file does not automatically unlock when it is closed, the user who locked the file can manually unlock the file.
If you close Desktop Connector while files are open in authoring programs like AutoCAD, restarting Desktop Connector will not automatically unlock those files. In such cases, the file will need to be manually unlocked.
Related Concepts: