Track changes and manage file history
Datar Drive provides comprehensive versioning capabilities that let you track changes to files over time, compare different versions, and restore previous states when needed. This guide explains how to effectively use file versioning features.
Datar maintains a complete version history for files, with detailed metadata for each version.
Datar Drive's versioning system automatically creates and manages file versions.
New versions are created when:
How versions are stored:
Datar provides a suite of tools for working with file versions.
You can view a file's complete version history through several methods:
The version history view shows a chronological list of all versions with details such as:
Datar allows you to configure versioning policies to control how versions are created, stored, and retained.
Policy Setting | Description | Available Options |
|---|---|---|
Version Creation | Controls when new versions are created | Always, Major edits only, Manual only, Custom rules |
Version Limit | Maximum number of versions to keep per file | Unlimited, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, Custom number |
Retention Period | How long versions are kept before automatic cleanup | Forever, 30 days, 90 days, 1 year, Custom period |
Storage Tier | Where older versions are stored | Standard storage, Archive storage, Custom lifecycle rules |
Deletion Protection | Prevents deletion of versions | None, Basic (confirmation), Enhanced (approval workflow) |
Datar's versioning system integrates with other modules and external applications.
Version history integrates with:
Version support for external tools:
Always include clear, informative comments when creating new versions. Describe what changed and why to help team members understand the evolution of the document without having to compare versions manually.
For important documents, create explicit milestone versions at significant points in the document lifecycle (e.g., draft complete, review complete, final approved). This makes it easier to navigate the version history.
Balance storage costs with compliance needs by setting appropriate version retention policies. Consider keeping more versions for critical documents and fewer for less important files.
Take advantage of Datar's version comparison features to understand changes between versions. This is particularly important during review cycles to ensure all changes are captured and understood.
Ensure all users understand how versioning works and the importance of creating meaningful versions. Proper training reduces confusion and improves the quality of your version history.
Periodically review version history for critical documents to ensure appropriate changes are being made and documented. This helps maintain document integrity and can identify unauthorized changes.
