Starting with CompassCAD 1.4.0, an innovative feature called "Collaborative Multi-Edit" has been introduced, revolutionizing the way users interact with CompassCAD designs. This groundbreaking functionality enables real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to simultaneously edit a single CompassCAD design. What's particularly exciting about this feature is its cross-platform compatibility; it's not confined to CompassCAD users alone. In fact, QroCAD users can seamlessly participate in a CompassCAD-hosted multi-edit session, fostering a more inclusive and versatile collaborative environment.

Prerequisites

To ensure a smooth and effective collaboration experience, it's crucial that all participating clients meet the following requirements:

• Utilize the latest versions of the software: CompassCAD 1.4.0 or later, or QroCAD 1.6.0 or later. This ensures compatibility and access to all the latest features and improvements.
• Maintain a robust and stable internet connection. For optimal performance, we recommend a connection with less than 60ms latency. This low latency is essential for real-time synchronization and seamless collaboration.
• Currently, sessions are limited to two participants. While this may seem restrictive, it allows for focused, one-on-one collaboration. Rest assured, our development team is actively working on expanding this limit to accommodate larger group collaborations in future updates.
• To maintain optimal network performance during the session, it's advisable to avoid running other programs that generate continuous network traffic. This includes online video games, large file downloads, or streaming services, which could potentially interfere with the smooth operation of the multi-edit feature.

Steps

Initialization

Before diving into a multi-edit session, it's essential to properly initialize your project. CompassCAD streamlines this process by automatically creating a new project when you start the application. Alternatively, if you're working on an existing project, it will load the opened .ccad file. For added flexibility, you also have the option to open a project through the dialog box or recover a previous backup if needed.

An empty CompassCAD project should look like this

Once your project is initialized and ready, the next step is to initiate or join a collaborative session. Look for the icon featuring a pencil combined with a WiFi symbol - this is your gateway to the multi-edit feature. Clicking this icon will present you with two primary options for collaboration:

• Utilize your own unique session ID to host a new collaborative session
• Enter a friend's session ID to join their existing session

Using your own session ID

When you access the multi-edit panel, you'll be presented with a unique session ID. This ID is the key to hosting your own collaborative session. To invite others to join your session, simply copy this ID and share it with your collaborator. This allows them to connect directly to your session, initiating the collaborative process.

The blue, highlighted text is your session ID

As soon as your collaborator successfully connects to your session, you'll receive a notification stating "A new participant has joined!". This alert ensures you're aware of when the collaborative session truly begins.

Note: It's important to be aware that if you make any changes to the project before your collaborator joins, there might be a brief delay as the current state of the project synchronizes to their client. This ensures that all participants start on the same page, literally and figuratively.

Using a friend's session ID