# Drafts of files and file versions

> [HTML Version](draft-file.html)

**Draft** is a file status that allows you to edit files online without creating intermediate versions every time you save changes.

You can use drafts in two scenarios:

- New file draft. Upload a file in the draft status if it does not have a current main version yet.

- File version draft. Prepare changes for an existing file without affecting its current working version.

## General workflow

1. **Preparation. **You upload a new file draft or create a version draft.

2. **Editing.  **You can edit the draft online as many times as you need. Intermediate files are not created or recorded in the version history.

3. **Publishing. **When you finish working on the draft, publish it to make it the current version. Users with view permissions will then see it as the active file.

## Differences between new file drafts and version drafts

Use this table to choose the draft type for your task.

| | | |
|------|------|------|
| **Feature** | **New file draft** | **File version draft** |
| **Purpose** | Prepare a new file before publishing its first version. | Prepare edits for an already published file. |
| **Current version** | None | Exists |
| **How to create** | In the **Files** workspace, click **Create > Draft** | In the file viewer window:<br>- Add a version and disable the option to make it current.<br>- Go to the version list and move an outdated version to drafts. |
| **How to open** | Select the file in the **Files** workspace. | In the file viewer window, select **All Versions > Drafts** on the side panel. |
| **Online editing** | Available | Available |
| **New version creation on edit** | No | No |
| **Approval and review** | Available | Not available |
| **Set as current version** | Available | Available |


## Work with a new file draft

Use this option if you are creating a file from scratch and need to prepare it before making it current.

### Step 1. Create a draft

1. Go to the **Files** workspace.

2. In the top menu, click **Create > Draft** and upload a file from your computer.

When you open this file, a notification will inform you that it has no current version.

### Step 2. Edit and prepare the draft

In the file viewer window, you can perform the following actions on the draft:

- Edit online. Any changes you make are saved directly to this draft.

- Send for approval or review. Click **Send** on the top panel to share the draft with colleagues before publishing it.

- Perform standard viewer actions. such as printing, moving, or renaming the file. To learn more, see [View files in BRIX](preview-and-edit-files.md#work-with-file). 

### Step 3. Publish the draft

When the file is ready to be published, make it current:

1. In the file viewer, go to the right side panel and click **All Versions** in the **File Versions** section.

2. In the window that opens, click **Make Current**.

## Work with a file version draft

A version draft allows you to prepare edits for an already published file without changing the active version for other users.

### Step 1. Create a version draft

You can prepare a version draft in two ways:

#### Upload a new file from your computer

1. In the file viewer window, click the plus icon on the top panel. If it is hidden, click the three-dots icon and select **Add Version**.

2. In the window that opens, select the file to upload.

3. Disable the **Set the new version as the current one** option.

4. Click **Create**.

#### Move an obsolete version to drafts

1. In the file viewer side panel, click **All Versions** and switch to the **Outdated** tab.

2. Next to the required version, click **Revert to Draft**. The version number will remain unchanged.

### Step 2. Edit the version draft

1. In the file viewer side panel, click **All Versions** and go to the **Drafts** tab.

2. Open the draft you need by clicking its name.

3. Edit the file online. Your changes will be saved directly to this draft.

### Step 3. Publish the version draft

When you finish editing the draft:

1. In the file viewer side panel, click **All Versions** and open the **Drafts** tab.

2. Under the name of the prepared draft, click **Make Current**.

The draft will move to the **Current** tab and become the main version of the file. The previously current version will move to the **Outdated** tab. The version numbers remain unchanged.