--- title: Online editing description: Independently introduce Office online editing, light document, Markdown/code text, KM mind map, draw.io flow chart and permission system. slug: online-editing lang: en category: Online Collaboration category_order: 3 order: 1 keywords: - Online editing - OnlyOffice - light document - Markdown - KM - draw.io - Permissions --- # Online editing Online editing covers Office document online collaborative editing, light document online editing, Markdown/code/text editing, KM mind maps, draw.io flow charts, as well as client editing and permission control. ![Web version file list](../../assets/images/web-main.webp) *Online editing is usually entered from the file list or right-click menu and is controlled by file permissions, sharing permissions, lock status and enterprise module configuration.* ## Capability Overview | Type | Default Capabilities | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | Office online editing | OnlyOffice | OnlyOffice is used by default, supporting online editing and multi-person collaboration of Word, Excel, PPT, WPS and other documents | | Other online Offices | Accessible | Private deployment can be connected to Office 365, WPS Online, Yongzhong Office and other online Offices that support Web/API as needed | | Light document | Can be used as an independent lightweight document form | Suitable for fast recording, online collaboration, knowledge accumulation and scenarios that do not require traditional Office typesetting; Reference: | | Markdown/Code/Text | Comes with text editor | Can edit TXT, MD, RTF, as well as CSS, JS, JSP and other text/code files | | Mind map | KM format | Default saved as `.KM`, can export KM, TXT, MD, SVG, PNG, Xmind | | Flowchart | draw.io | Support online editing of draw.io flowchart; whether it is enabled by default depends on module authorization and deployment configuration | | Client editing | Local application | Call local software to edit cloud files, and automatically upload them as new versions after saving | ## Permission system Online editing is not a separate entry point to bypass permissions. Whether a user can edit depends on the following permissions and status: - Whether the user has online editing, editing, uploading new versions or corresponding customized file permissions for the file or folder. - Whether the file is in client editing locked, online editing locked, approval locked, finalized or archived status. - In the sharing scenario, whether the sharer grants online editing, annotation, downloading, viewing, etc. permissions. - Whether the enterprise has enabled permission combinations such as "Online Editing Only", which allows collaborative editing but restricts source file downloads. - Whether the corresponding online Office, light document, mind map, flow chart or third-party editor module is enabled in the private deployment. ## Office Online Editing ### Overview of online editing module BabelBird Enterprise Drive has been an official partner of OnlyOffice for many years. The online editing module of BabelBird Enterprise Drive is developed based on OnlyOffice technology and optimizes the loading and display of Chinese fonts. Babel Online Editor supports a variety of document formats, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PPT) and WPS Office. Details of the cooperation between BabelBird and OnlyOffice can be found on the official website of OnlyOffice: https://www.onlyoffice.com ### Technical basis The technical basis of the online editing module includes: - OnlyOffice Editor: OnlyOffice is a powerful online office suite that supports online editing of multiple document formats. Babel integrates it into the network disk system to provide a high-quality online editing experience. - Chinese font optimization: In order to overcome the shortcomings in the loading efficiency of Chinese fonts in OnlyOffice, BabelBird has been optimized and adopted font localization technology to greatly improve the loading and display speed of Chinese fonts, thus improving the user experience. - Document lock: Babel supports both client editing and online editing, which means that in order to prevent file version conflicts, files must be locked when being edited online and cannot be edited on the client side, and files must be locked when being edited on the client side and cannot be edited online. ### Main functions BabelBird's online editing module includes the following main functions: - Multi-format support: Users can edit and view documents in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PPT) and WPS Office formats online. - Collaborative editing: The online editing module supports multiple users to collaboratively edit documents at the same time. Users can view the changes of other users in real time and edit documents together. This collaborative editing feature is great for team collaboration. - Compatibility: BabelBird's online editing module is compatible with Microsoft Office and can restore the Office layout and fonts on web pages. Ensure good compatibility of document layout and format when opened in different editors. - Open API: Babel opens the API of the online editor, allowing other enterprise software to call the API and integrate the online editing function into other applications. ### User experience The goal of the online editing module is to provide a user-friendly and smooth online editing experience. Users can directly open the document that needs to be edited in the network disk, and save it immediately after editing without leaving the network disk interface. This seamless integration improves user efficiency and makes editing documents more convenient. At the same time, Babel's permission configuration supports "online editing only", which means that some users can only edit documents online but cannot download and obtain documents. ### Enterprise Collaboration BabelBird's online editing module is not only suitable for individual users, but also provides a collaborative office platform for enterprises. Team members can edit documents together, share ideas, and work more efficiently through real-time collaboration. ### Open API Babel Online Editor API allows enterprises to integrate online editing functions into their own software or third-party software, allowing enterprises to fully utilize online editing capabilities. ### Other online editors BabelBird Standard Edition also integrates other online editors for online editing and creation of MD files, TXT files and even mind maps (such as brain maps). At the same time, BabelBird can also integrate other online editing systems that support HTML5 by connecting to third-party APIs, such as Microsoft Office 365 or Kingsoft's web office (WPS). - Comes with text editor for online editing. The text editor that comes with BabelBird can edit and preview text files such as TXT, MD, RTF, etc. It can also edit code files such as CSS, JS, JSP... to facilitate users to quickly create document records. - Comes with a mind map (mind map) editor. BabelBird comes with its own mind map module, which can create and edit mind map files online. Mind map files are saved in KM format by default. It can also be exported to KM, TXT, MD, SVG, PNG, and Xmind formats. BabelBird can also optionally support the creation of flow charts, but you need to purchase the corresponding module license (the non-standard version comes with it by default). ## Client editing ### Client editing overview BabelBird Enterprise Drive provides powerful client-side editing functions. Users can easily call local editing software to edit cloud documents. After editing and saving, the files will be automatically uploaded to the cloud. This feature not only improves user convenience, but also helps avoid file version conflicts, thereby improving work efficiency. Right-click on the file to be edited in the client file list and select Edit to open client editing. The implementation principle of client-side editing determines that as long as there is a local editing program, all types of files can be edited on the client-side. ### Technical implementation Implementation technologies for client-side editing functions include: - Client integration: Both BabelBird's Win client and Mac client support the calling of local editing software, which allows users to open and edit cloud files directly in local software. - Cache management: Client-side editing uses caching technology to cache the files that need to be edited from the cloud to the local computer and call local applications to open them. When the system detects that the file being edited has been updated, it uploads the updated file as a new version. Good cache management technology can save users' local disk space while ensuring efficiency. Users can also manually clear the file cache in the Babel right-click menu. - File status detection: Before client-side editing, the system checks the status of the file, including whether the file is locked by another user. This helps prevent multiple people from editing the same file at the same time and avoid version conflicts. - Automatic locking and unlocking: When a user starts editing a file, the system automatically locks the file to ensure that other users cannot edit the same file at the same time. After editing is completed, the file will be automatically unlocked, a new version will be generated, and the modified file will be uploaded to the cloud. - Version conflict handling: Despite the locking mechanism, file version conflicts may occur under certain circumstances, such as network problems or when the file has not been edited for a long time. BabelBird provides a conflict handling interface, allowing users to compare and choose whether to use the cloud version or the local version as the current version. Regardless of the user's choice, the system will ensure that the unselected version will also be uploaded to the cloud as a historical version to prevent data loss. ### Main functions The main functions of the client editing function include: - Local editing: Users can cache the file locally by clicking the local edit button and edit it using the local default application. Babel theoretically supports local editing of all files as long as there is a corresponding local application. - Automatic lock: Files are automatically locked while editing to prevent other users from editing at the same time, thus avoiding version conflicts. - Automatically unlock: After editing is completed and the app is closed, the file will be automatically unlocked, a new version will be generated, and the modified file will be uploaded to the cloud. - Version control: All edited and uploaded files will generate new versions so that users can view and restore previous versions at any time. ### User experience Client-side editing capabilities provide an excellent user experience. Users can edit in the local editor without having to download the file, edit it and then upload it. At the same time, file formats that do not support online editing or online preview can also be opened for editing or preview through client editing. This improves editing efficiency and workflow smoothness. ### technical challenges The technical challenges of client-side editing capabilities lie in detecting the status of files, automatically locking and unlocking, and handling conflicting file versions. The system needs to accurately determine whether a file is being edited by another user, while also providing user-friendly solutions when conflicts occur. These challenges require a combination of user experience and data integrity. BabelBird client editing is one of the few functional modules in the industry that can handle these problems well. ## Light document online editing Light documents are designed for rapid writing, multi-person collaboration, knowledge accumulation and lightweight publishing scenarios. Compared with traditional Office, light documents are more suitable for organizing information with structured paragraphs, lists, tables, links, and embedded content; compared with Markdown, light documents emphasize visual editing and low-threshold collaboration for non-technical people. In actual deployment, the entry, template, permissions and publishing method of light documents should be designed together with the enterprise document specifications, project collaboration methods and knowledge base accumulation process. ## Markdown, code and text online editing Babel comes with a text editor that can be used for text documents such as TXT, MD, and RTF, as well as code files such as CSS, JS, and JSP. Applicable scenarios include project descriptions, lightweight technical documents, configuration snippets, script descriptions, log snippets and team knowledge maintenance. ## Mind map online editing Mind maps are saved in `.KM` format by default and support exporting to KM, TXT, MD, SVG, PNG, and Xmind. It is suitable for requirements sorting, meeting minutes, knowledge structure, project dismantling and training materials. When working with project folders, mind maps will also participate in version management, permission control, sharing and synchronization. ## Flow chart online editing The flowchart uses the draw.io system, which is suitable for business processes, system architecture, approval flow, data flow and implementation flowcharts. This capability is available as an optional module, and its availability depends on authorization and deployment configuration.