Locking document fragments/multi-user editing

Lawmaker supports multi-user editing by locking fragments of the document to a specific user preventing other users making changes to the same fragment. If no one else has a lock when you begin editing a fragment inside a document, Lawmaker will lock the fragment to you, noting the date/time that the lock was acquired so that other drafters in the document can see through the tooltip in the Structure View.

Locks are shown in the structure view using padlocks, pencils and asterisks.
- Asterisk - represent newly inserted provisions/amendments/interstitial headings which haven’t been manually saved yet and are only visible to the user who created them until they save their changes.
- pencil - this indicates to the user editing the fragment that it has been locked to them
- padlock - this is what other users see when you have a fragment locked.
Hovering your mouse pointer over the lock icons will display a message informing you who has the lock and when this lock was acquired.
Additionally, you will be able to see if another user has a lock on the document as the text in the Editor will also be highlighted grey.

For bill/SI/SSI provisions

To insert a new provision, the system will need to acquire a lock on the parent element.

It is not possible to insert provisions if the parent element is locked. You will need to ask the other user save their changes (which will release all their locks) so that you can insert and save your new provision. Saving after the insertion will allow you to continue editing your newly inserted provision without stopping another user from inserting or updating another provision with the same parent.

If you are editing an existing section, regulation, article or rule, the lock will only occur at the section/regulation etc level. allowing many drafters to edit separate provisions at the same time in the same document. If you are editing a schedule, the same applies but the lock will occur at the schedule level or, if the schedule is divided into Parts, Chapters, or cross-headings, at that level.

Schedules created before version 17 was released (August 2024) will not be fragmented to the grouping level - they will remain as single fragments that can only be edited and locked at that level. However, as soon as the document containing the schedules is saved again, all schedules in the document will be fragmented at the grouping level.

For amendments

The lock will be at the amendment level or the amendment list level if you are editing a List of Draft Amendments (LoDA), Daily List, Marshalled List (including manuscript amendments and scripted marshalled list etc) and Grouping List.

To insert a new amendment in a LoDA you will need a lock on the entire document.

To edit an amendment, you only need a lock on the amendment thereby allowing other users to edit other amendments in the same list. Interstitial headings are treated as part of the document (e.g. LoDA, Daily List etc) so if you have inserted a new amendment (only possible in a LoDA) – all interstitial headings will be locked as well but this won’t interfere with other users in the same document editing existing amendments.

Once you save your changes, the lock is released.