Real-time Collaboration

This guide explains how Optivation handles multiple users working on the same page simultaneously.

Overview

Optivation provides real-time awareness of who is viewing and editing pages, helping teams collaborate without conflicts.

Presence Indicators

Seeing Who's Online

When you open a page, you'll see avatars of other users viewing the same page:

• Avatars appear in the page header
• Each user has a unique color
• Hover over an avatar to see the user's name

Your Presence

Your presence is automatically tracked when you:

• Open a page
• Move your cursor
• Make edits

When you leave or close the page, you're automatically removed.

Edit Locking

How It Works

To prevent conflicting edits, Optivation uses edit locking:

1. When you start editing, you acquire a lock
2. Other users see that you're editing
3. They can view changes but can't edit simultaneously
4. When you're done, the lock is released

Lock Timeout

Locks automatically expire after 5 minutes of inactivity, preventing abandoned locks from blocking others.

When Someone Else is Editing

If another user has the lock, you'll see:

• A yellow notification showing who's editing
• You can still view the page
• Wait for them to finish or contact them directly

Conflict Detection

Version Tracking

Each page has a version number that increments with every save.

If a Conflict Occurs

Conflicts are rare with locking, but can happen if:

• Two users edit different browsers without locking
• A lock expires while someone is still editing

When a conflict is detected:

1. You'll see a conflict warning
2. Refresh to see the latest version
3. Re-apply your changes if needed

Best Practices

Communicate

Let teammates know when you're making major edits to a shared page.

Save Frequently

Frequent saves reduce the risk of losing work if conflicts occur.

Respect Locks

If someone has a lock, check with them before attempting to edit.

Close Tabs

Close page tabs when you're done to release locks and remove your presence.

Limitations

Current Implementation

• Presence updates every few seconds (not instant)
• Cursor positions are tracked but not displayed
• Full real-time co-editing (like Google Docs) is planned for future

Planned Features

Future updates may include:

• Live cursor positions
• Character-by-character sync
• Offline editing with sync
• Change highlights from other users

Troubleshooting

I Can't Edit

1. Check if someone else has the lock
2. Wait for the lock to expire (5 minutes)
3. Contact the person who has the lock

My Presence Isn't Showing

1. Check your internet connection
2. Refresh the page
3. Presence updates automatically every few seconds

Conflict on Save

1. Your changes may conflict with another user's
2. Copy your changes to clipboard
3. Refresh the page
4. Re-apply your changes

FAQ

Can multiple people edit at the same time?

Currently, one person can edit at a time per page. Others can view but not edit while the lock is held.

What happens if I lose connection?

Your presence will timeout after 30 seconds, and any lock will expire after 5 minutes.

Can I force-release someone's lock?

Not currently. Wait for the timeout or contact the user.