Colligo Contributor Pro | How it works!

Colligo Contributor™ Pro is client software that enables you to easily access, modify, and create SharePoint^® content through three desktop interfaces: (1) an Add-In for Microsoft^® Outlook^® for 2-way access, email drag-and-drop, and automatic metadata capture, (2) a Windows Explorer^® extension for seamlessly linking folders on your file system with SharePoint document libraries, and (3) a standalone client for rich metadata management and instant SharePoint access online and offline.

Colligo Contributor Pro offers a number of options for synchronizing and accessing SharePoint content. Once you have installed it, you can access your SharePoint sites and content through the Outlook interface, the Client interface, or the Windows Explorer interface, as described below.

Using the Outlook Add-In Interface

To synchronize SharePoint content to Contributor Add-In, simply select the "Connect to Outlook" button on the Internet Explorer toolbar from any SharePoint document library or list.

The Contributor Add-In uses the credentials you entered to access the SharePoint site and link the library, folder, or list into Outlook. The subfolders and content synchronized are "security trimmed", meaning you are only allowed to download the content that you are authorized to download.

Next, select "Make this list or library available offline" if you want to cache the content to your local data store. Or simply click "Yes" to sync the document library or list in online-only mode. If you opted to take the list or library offline, content from SharePoint is automatically cached for offline access.

A tree-view showing folders and sub-folders is added under the Colligo for SharePoint folder in the left-hand navigation pane of Outlook. The naming convention is the site name and document library name - at any time you can personalize and reorganize these folders locally.

For more on how the Colligo Contributor Add-In interface works, please visit this page.

Using the Contributor Client Interface

The first step is to select a site for synchronization. You can select the "Connect to Contributor" button on the Internet Explorer toolbar from any SharePoint document library or list and synchronize it directly. Alternatively, from the Contributor menu bar, select "Site" and "Download New Site ...", then enter your SharePoint credentials, as shown below. Contributor Client then logs into SharePoint and retrieves libraries and lists that are available for you to select based on your permissions. You can select specific lists, libraries, or views and folders (by applying a "Filter") for synchronization. You can also select "Synchronize all document libraries and lists" to download the entire site.

Downloaded content is stored locally on the laptop and is available to be edited, online and offline, regardless of network connectivity. Double click files to open them. It's easy to edit files and save them back into the workspace. New documents can be created using content types and forms. Files can be also dragged-into and out of document libraries and folders from Outlook folders, emails, and your desktop. Other site elements, such as metadata and views are all available for use offline.

For more on how the Colligo Contributor Client interface works, please visit this page.

Using the Contributor File Manager Interface

The first step is to select a site for synchronization. You can click the "Connect to Contributor" button on the Internet Explorer toolbar from any SharePoint document library or list and synchronize it directly. Alternatively, from Windows Explorer select the Colligo for SharePoint root folder in the Network section of the Windows tree view. Using either a right-click, or File > New, in the Explorer menu bar brings up the "Download New Site" window. Enter your SharePoint credentials, as shown below. Contributor File Manager then logs into SharePoint and retrieves libraries and lists that are available for you to select based on your permissions. You can select specific lists, libraries, or views and folders (by applying a "Filter"). You can also select "Synchronize all document libraries and lists" to download the entire site.

Downloaded content is stored locally on the computer and is available to be edited, online and offline, regardless of network connectivity. Navigate to folders using the Windows folder tree and double click files to open them. It's easy to edit files and save them back into the workspace. New documents can be created using content types and forms. Folders, files, and emails can be dragged-into and out of document libraries and folders. Other site elements, such as metadata are all available offline.

For more on how the Colligo Contributor File Manager interface works, please visit this page.

Contributor for SharePoint Pro | How It Works!