4.12 Converting and encoding a Document

Conversion helps you share Documents when not all members of your Workspace can use the same programs. Conversion translates a Document from one (typically program-specific) file format into another one that you and your colleagues may be able to read and edit more easily than the original format.

Nobody is perfect:

Like conversion programs on your local computer system, the conversion routines in BSCW typically cannot translate all features of program-specific file formats into other formats without losses. As far as possible, BSCW will advise you of changes or losses to be expected from a specific conversion.

Encoding typically reduces the file size of a Document, i. e. the storage space requirements and the time to download a Document. You need a matching program on your local system to de-encode an encoded file in order to make it usable again. Please make sure all members of your Workspace have the necessary programs installed on their machines and have configured their web browser to start these programs when they encounter the MIME type of an encoded file.

• Click [Convert] on the [Action] bar of the Document's entry

to bring up the 'Convert document' form. It includes a menu of the formats into which BSCW can convert your Document, and briefly indicates major types of losses during conversion to the different formats.

• Enter the name of the new Document, select the destination format and/or the encoding to be applied.
• Click

BSCW will write the converted file to your Bag (see section 3.6.1) and then display a form which lets you immediately download the Document.

Note:

Conversion programs are not part of the BSCW server software. They have to be installed separately by the server administrator. Thus, the selection of conversion programs available on your BSCW server is determined by its administrator.