However, if you work directly in the work area and update your files without using Rational Synergy operations, the work area can become different from your project in the Rational Synergy database. You can use the synchronize operation to compare your work area with the database and selectively update them. The software informs you when database and work area files are different, so you can compare the differences and choose which to update. You can also choose to merge the files. If you do so, the merge tool shows you the changes side by side. Then you can select between the individual lines that differ.
If you need to work outside the Rational Synergy database, you can modify a file in your work area. You can modify the file regardless of whether the database object version is checked out. When you reconnect to the database and synchronize your project, the software automatically checks out a new version of the object from the database. The changes you made to the object in the work area are added.
The synchronize operation is important for data integrity. If you do not save the work area file changes to the Rational Synergy database, the work area files are subject to the reliability of the system. When you synchronize, your files become part of the Rational Synergy database and are backed up whenever the database is backed up.