Requiring users to check out a document before they can edit it

If you want to prevent multiple people from editing a document at the same time, you can require that documents are checked out first.

Getting ready

This recipe works for:

• SharePoint 2010 Foundation

• SharePoint 2010 Standard Edition

• SharePoint 2010 Enterprise Edition

• Office 365 (SharePoint Online)

You will need a SharePoint site with a document library where you want to require check out. This recipe uses a SharePoint 2010 Team Site for illustration.

You will need the Design or Full Con trol permission level to run this recipe.

How to do it...

1. Open the SharePoint Team Site where you want to require check out.

2. Open the Shared Documents link in the Quick Launch menu.

3. Select the Library tab in the Library Tools ribbon.

4. Click on the Library Settings icon.

5. The Document Library Settings page is displayed. Click on the Versioning settings link.

   

6. Set Require Checkout section, and set the Require documents to be checked out before they can be edited...