Versions in AODocs can be created automatically or manually by:
- the upload feature
- the version feature
Learn more: Manage document versions in an AODocs library - the check-out/check-in feature
Learn more: Check out a document: create a draft version of a document
The AODocs version control system is built on top of Google Drive’s revision system. In Google Drive, the behavior of “revisions” depends on the type of file:
- For Google file formats, like for example Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, revisions are automatically generated each time the file is modified, and end-users have no control over when a new revision is created
- For other file formats (i.e. any file that can be uploaded or downloaded from Google Drive), revisions are created when users upload new content, and when they choose to keep it. Learn more: View activity & file versions.
This article describes how the AODocs version control works in these two cases (Google formats and non-Google formats).
Upload new versions of attachments
This feature applies only to non-Google files. When uploading a new version of a document, you can choose to keep the current version or to overwrite it.
Keep the current version
If you choose to upload a new attachment and keep the current version, AODocs will create a new version of the document. The version control of the the attachment itself is managed by Google Drive in the form of a new Google Drive revision.
The original AODocs URL and Drive URL do not change and always display the current version of the document.
Note: When previewing a previous version of an AODocs document, you can't preview the previous version of a non-Google attachment. You can only download it.
Overwrite the current version
If you choose to upload a new attachment and overwrite the current version, the uploaded file will be saved as a new revision in Google Drive, but AODocs will not create a new version of the document and the old version of the attachment will not be accessible through the AODocs interface. The previous revision of the file in Google Drive will be preserved for a few days and will be visible from the “Manage versions” menu. Learn more: View activity & file versions.
The original AODocs URL and Drive URL do not change and always display the current version of the document.
Manage document versions in an AODocs library
Google documents
If you are creating a new version of a document (without using the revert functionality), the original AODocs URL and Drive URL do not change and always display the current version of the document.
If you are reverting to a previous version:
- the revision history will be completely lost
- the Drive link of the original attachment will change
The original AODocs URL doesn’t change and always displays the current version of the document. However, the Drive link of attachments are different before and after reverting to a previous version.
If you are using direct links in a Third Party tool, we advise you to use the AODocs links instead of the Drive links.
Non-Google documents
The original AODocs URL and Drive URL don’t change and always display the current version of the document.
Check-out/check-in
Google documents
When a document is checked in:
- the revision history which existed before the check-out is lost
- the Drive link of the original attachment before the check-out changes
When a check-out of a document is cancelled, the original AODocs URL and Drive URL don’t change and always display the version the document which was the current version before the check-out.
The original AODocs URL doesn’t change and always displays the current version of the document. The Drive links of attachments are different before the check-out and after the check-in.
If you are using direct links in a Third Party tool, we advise you to use the AODocs links instead of the Drive links.
Non-Google documents
The AODocs URL and Drive URL do not change and always display the current version of the document.