Recall that each copy-based work area in which a file is used has a copy of the file. When you change a file in a copy-based work area, you change only its local copy. The next time you access the file, Rational Synergy detects the change and updates the file in the database and in any other visible work areas in which the file is used.
The example in the following figure shows how updates occur when a copy-based file that is used in multiple projects is updated. The boxes represent copies of a single source file or links to the source file. Only visible work areas are updated.
The second example shows how updates occur when a link-based file used in multiple projects is updated. The boxes represent copies of a single source file or links to the source file. If a change is made through a link, copy-based work areas (such as Work Area 1) are not updated until the object is accessed by a client where the work area is visible.