Editing in the Browser

The way Web Apps behave when you’re using them to co-author files varies slightly depending on which program you’re using. For example, when two of you are editing a document in Word Web App or a presentation in PowerPoint, one person can edit the document in the Web App, but the second person must click Open in Word. and the second user will see a dialog box with several options, including one to save and sync the edits with the server when the first used is no longer using the file. (See Figure 8-11.)

FIGURE 8-11 When you are the second author opening a file in Word Web App or PowerPoint Web App, you are given a choice of viewing the file only or making changes and saving them to the server later.

After the first user closes the document, Word lets you know you can save your changes to the server as well by clicking Save. (See Figure 8-12.)

FIGURE 8-12 Word or PowerPoint lets you know when the first co-author has closed the file so that your changes can be synced with the server.

Excel Web App behaves differently, enabling two co-authors to be working in the same file in their browser windows. To edit a worksheet using Excel Web App, you can open the file and click Edit In Browser, whether you’re the first author or an additional coauthor. Excel displays the number of authors working on the file in the lower right corner of the worksheet window. You can click the notification to see who else is working on the file with you. (See Figure 8-13.)