These commands are available only when a drawing stored in PentagonDocs Assistant is open.

Check Out

PentagonDocs Assistant uses a Check-In/Check-Out function which ‘locks’ files to the person editing. Other users will not be able to edit a document that is being worked on by another user or see any changes made until the document is checked-in.


If you open a drawing from PentagonDocs Assistant which has not yet been checked out, it will be in a read-only state (AutoCAD gives a warning). Before making any changes to the drawing you must Check Out the drawing. 


Click ‘Check Out’ to begin editing. 


This will also ‘lock’ the file in PentagonDocs Assistant, preventing anyone else from making edits. During this Check Out process the drawing is re-opened from PentagonDocs Assistant so any changes made when the drawing was read only would be lost.


Any drawings that are checked out to you are listed in the ‘Checked Out to me’ panel.

Check In and Close / Check In Changes / Check In and Open as read-only

When you have completed an edit task on a drawing you can check the drawing (or any other document) back in. This is not something that you have to do every time you close a drawing; it’s just when you have finished your task and wish to move the drawing along in workflow.


Click ‘Check-In’ and the drawing will now be checked back into PentagonDocs Assistant for another user to work on, or, to enable workflow options.


There are 3 Check In options provided in the button flyout.

    • Check In and Close

       If you have finished editing a drawing, this option checks in the file and AutoCAD exits the drawing. AutoCAD remains running.


    • Check In Changes

       This option updates the server with your latest changes but the drawing remains checked out and open in AutoCAD.

       You could use this option is a colleague needs to reference you latest edits but you are still working on the drawing. This option also updates the server and ensures the latest drawing is backed up overnight.


    • Check In and Open as Readonly

       If you have finished your edits but still need to reference the drawing, this option checks in and then reopens the drawing in AutoCAD. The drawing can be checked out for further edits if necessary.

Undo Check Out

If you have inadvertently checked out a drawing, you can use the ‘Undo Check Out’ button to undo this action. The current checked out version of the drawing is removed from the system and the drawing reverts to the previous checked in version.