Disable co-authoring (SharePoint Server 2010)

 

Applies to: SharePoint Server 2010

This article describes how to disable co-authoring functionality in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 by using Group Policy or by using Windows PowerShell 2.0.

Disable co-authoring

When a document is checked out from a document library, it becomes unavailable for co-authoring. Users can individually check out documents as a way to lock them so other users cannot co-author with them. Co-authoring requires that check-out not be required on any document library used for co-authoring documents. Requiring check-out in a document library is one way to disable co-authoring for the whole library. Co-authoring functionality can also be disabled on the client side using Group Policy.

Procedures in this task:

  • To disable co-authoring by using Group Policy

  • To disable co-authoring for Word documents and PowerPoint presentations at the Web Service level by using Windows PowerShell

  • To disable co-authoring for Word documents and PowerPoint presentations at the Web Application level by using Windows PowerShell

To disable co-authoring by using Group Policy

  1. On the server, click Start, click Administrative Controls, and then click Group Policy Management.

  2. In Group Policy Management, expand the Forest and Domain nodes for the domain where you want to set the policy, and then expand Group Policy Objects.

  3. Right-click the Group Policy Object where your co-authoring settings are configured, and then click Edit.

  4. For Word 2010, expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Microsoft Word 2010, Collaboration Settings, Co-authoring, and then double-click Prevent Co-authoring.

    For PowerPoint 2010, expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, Collaboration Settings, Co-authoring, and then double-click Prevent Co-authoring.

  5. In the Prevent Co-authoring Properties dialog box, select Enabled, and then click OK.

You can also disable co-authoring for Word and PowerPoint documents on the server by setting the DisableCoauthoring server property using Windows PowerShell.

Note

Some procedures in this task require using Windows PowerShell or SharePoint 2010 Management Shell to run cmdlets. To run SharePoint 2010 cmdlets in Windows PowerShell, you must add the Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell snap-in by using the Add-PSSnapin cmdlet, or you can run the SharePoint 2010 cmdlets by using SharePoint 2010 Management Shell. By default, the Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell snap-in is already registered, and the snap-in is added to the SharePoint 2010 Management Shell. To run SharePoint 2010 cmdlets, you must be a member of the SharePoint_Shell_Access role on the configuration database and a member of the WSS_ADMIN_WPG local group on the computer where SharePoint 2010 Products is installed.
For more information about the Add-PSSnapin cmdlet, see Add-PSSnapin. For more information about how to use Windows PowerShell with SharePoint 2010 Products, see SharePoint 2010 Products administration by using Windows PowerShell.

To disable co-authoring for Word documents and PowerPoint presentations at the Web Service level by using Windows PowerShell

  1. Using Notepad, open a new a text file and then copy and paste the following script into the file.

    $siteurl = "<servername>" $mysite=new-object Microsoft.SharePoint.SPSite($siteurl)
    $mysite.WebApplication.WebService.DisableCoauthoring = $true;
    $mysite.WebApplication.WebService.Update();
    
  2. Specify the following parameters:

    Parameter Value

    $siteurl

    Server name

  3. Save the file with a .ps1 file name extension to a folder where you run scripts (typically C:\scripts).

  4. From the Windows PowerShell command prompt (that is, PS C:\>), type the following command and press ENTER:

    C:\<path>\<filename>.ps1

To disable co-authoring for Word documents and PowerPoint presentations at the Web Application level by using Windows PowerShell

  1. Using Notepad, open a new a text file and then copy and paste the following script into the file.

    $siteurl = "<servername>" $mysite=new-object Microsoft.SharePoint.SPSite($siteurl)
    $mysite.WebApplication.DisableCoauthoring = $true;
    $mysite.WebApplication.Update();
    
  2. Specify the following parameters:

    Parameter Value

    $siteurl

    Server name

  3. Save the file with a .ps1 file name extension to a folder where you run scripts (typically C:\scripts).

  4. From the Windows PowerShell command prompt (that is, PS C:\>), type the following command and press ENTER:

    C:\<path>\<filename>.ps1

See Also

Concepts

Co-authoring administration (SharePoint Server 2010)