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Collaborating:
There may come a point in time where you need to work with others on a large project using Dreamweaver. This is referred to as "collaborating." Different people will work on different parts of the same project at various times, so you'll need some way to keep track of who has what, what's been done, etc. Luckily, Dreamweaver makes this whole process a simple task.

Check-in / Check-out:
The essential feature of working in a collaboratory project is Dreamweaver's "Check-in / Check-out" feature. This is an addition to the standard method of "FTP-ing" files back and forth from the host's server to your computer.

We'll assume you have a place to store your site, and know the appropriate information. If you do not know how to set up Dreamweaver to access your site, please refer to the "Publishing" section before continuing.

We're going to explore the "Check In/Out" option, now. Click it to select it.

Make sure that both the "Enable File Check In and Check Out" as well as the "Check Out Files when Opening" are clicked. In "Check Out Name," enter in your initials (or first name, or something that easily identifies you). In the "Email Address" field, enter in your e-mail address.

Go ahead and connect to your site's server space. Once you're connected, the first thing you must do is "synchronize" with the server. To do this, go to the "Site" menu in the Site window, and select "Synchronize."

Keep the "Synchronize" menu at "Selected Local Files Only." In the "Direction" window, you really have two choices you can make. If you're starting up the files on the server space for the first time (that is, there's absolutely nothing up there that has been uploaded, and you want to put files up there), select "Put newer files to remote." If someone else has put files up, already, you want to get your directory set up to have the exact same file directory as the server. Select "Get newer files from remote." This will begin the downloading of the directory on the server.

Note that downloading the directory could take some time, especially if there are a large amount of files (or simply files with large file sizes) on the server. Using a computer with a fast connection will speed the process. Attempt on dial-up connection at your own risk!

Once you have connected and synchronized, you will notice that the Site window may look slightly different. Files will have little "locks" next to them.

This means that they are "checked-in"; in other words, they're on the server as-is, and no-one is currently working on that file. To begin working on a file, double-click it (it will open in a Dreamweaver window for you to work with).

When you're done working on a file, you need to "check" it back "in" to the server. To do this, you'll need to click the "Check In" button in the toolbar. Below, you'll find an image of the toolbar with the buttons pointed out to you.

Connect / Disconnect:
Connect to the server, or disconnect from the server.

Refresh:
If the contents of a directory have changed since connecting, click to refresh what your programs shows are the contents.

Get:
Simply download a file from a directory.

Put:
Simply upload a file to a directory.

Download & Check Out:
download a file, and check it out to work on.

Upload & Check In:
Upload a file to the server, and check it back in to indicate you are finished working on it.

Always make sure to check out a file before working on it, and always make sure to check in a file when done working on it. You may accidentally prevent someone from later working on a file if you do not check it back in. Also, do not overwrite someone's check-out. If they have a file checked out, they need to check it back in themselves.

When you've checked out a file, a little green check will appear next to it. If someone else has a file checked out, it will have a red check next to it. To see who has a file checked out, scroll over in your "Local Folder" window to the "Checked Out By" section; whatever the person has entered in for "Check Out Name" will be listed, there.

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