check out the file
Check in the file
Check in the file
You cannot prevent others from viewing the file while you're working on it, as long as they've read permissions to it. However they wouldn't be able to see the changes that are being done while you work on it, unless you check in the file. To achieve this, Open the document library settings. Go to 'versioning settings'. Scroll down and select the option 'require check out'.
As far as document managemment goes (SharePoint has many other useful features) SharePoint has the following advantages: One copy of a document shared by many users. One version of the truth. Automatic document versioning (if enabled) with ability to revert to prior versions. Auditing of document creator and modifier including date/time. Check-out/check-in to prevent users overwriting each other's changes. AD integrated security down to the document level if necessary to prevent unauthorized access. Ability to specify read vs write access. Out-of-the-box workflows for simple document approvals. Ability to develop mor complex workflows. Ability to automatically email subscribers when documents are added, changed or deleted.
If the file has been checked out, still the changes made to it and can be viewed if they were checked-in. In other words, you can always checkin the changes and keep the file checked out to yourself. It would still allow others to view the changes but not edit them.
set an alert for the library and configure a weekly summary
Document Compare
true
to manage a set of documents using an office application. A Document workspace allows to colloborate on documents with other team members. This helps maintain a single copy of the document being worked upon and avoids conflicts. Every person added in the To, Cc field of the outlook message automaticlaly becomes the member of the workspace used for working on the document. The workspace provides tools to provide up-to-date status on the document, create tasks for it, add relavant links for it. One can easily track changes and maintain versions.
All written changes in a legal document have to be documented. Any changes must be initialed at the point of change.
Which version of outlook are you using? Sharepoint (MOSS) and Outlook 2003 is a 1-way link i.e. you can add/edit/delete only from sharepoint to outlook 2k3 and not vice versa. However outlook 2007 is a two-way link. In case of latter, have you tried connecting the two from some otehr machine?
It depends on the document. If it is something within their authority, yes, they can make whatever changes the constitution allows.