IBM Docs

IBM Docs is an interactive software product from IBM for online editing of office documents. The purpose of IBM Docs is to simplify the way individual users or teams edit and review office documents. Users can create word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations independently or in teams, and they can also leverage professional templates to create new documents, or upload existing Microsoft Office and Lotus Symphony files to edit and share.^[1] Multiple users are able to edit and review a document simultaneously using co-editing.^[2] IBM Docs also enables users to view comments that their colleagues, assigned as Editors, have made on a document.^[2]

Functionality

IBM Docs was developed to support use cases where real time collaboration is needed. It allows up to five editors to simultaneously co-edit a document. For example, if you work with a team on one presentation different colors are assigned to the editors and they can all collaborate on the same document.^[3] When you need to work on a document together but at different times, IBM Docs supports commenting and discussion services allowing conversations to take place inside the document and in context. Comments are anchored to the text, spreadsheet cell, or presentation artifact allowing easy navigation to the context of the comment. Comments can be general comments or directed at a user by using the @ symbol (@userid). Furthermore, it is possiblte to filter comments by author and recipient.^[4]

IBM Docs provides capabilities to edit and view documents, spreadsheets and presentations in Microsoft Office binary formats like .ppt, .doc, OpenDocument format like .odt, .ods, as well as Microsoft Office XML based formats like .docx or .xlsx. It is also possible to upload a template in order to create a document, a spreadsheet or presentation from it.^[5][6][7]

IBM Docs leverages the file management features of IBM Connections.^[8] Documents are stored centrally within IBM Connections Files, which allows users to upload, share and manage documents. This helps to make sure that users always work on the most current version and are able restore back to a previous version if needed. IBM Docs lets users share online documents with others as readers or editors. Editors have full rights to edit the document with other editors. Readers can view the most recently published version of a document.^[9]

Using IBM Docs

IBM Docs is available on premises and as a cloud offering in IBM SmartCloud for Social Business. To use IBM Docs on premises a deployment of IBM Connections is a prerequisite.^[8] To use IBM Docs in the SmartCloud for Social Business customers either have to select the service SmartCloud Engage Advanced or purchase IBM Docs as an Add-on to SmartCloud Engage Standard or SmartCloud Connections.^[10] IBM Docs is web based and can be accessed through the browser. The supported browsers are Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome.^[11]

Mobile access

IBM Docs offers a mobile app for the iPad that is embedded in IBM's social network IBM Connections. To use the App you have to download the latest version of the IBM Connections Mobile App from the Appstore and install it on the device. With IBM Docs on the iPad you can edit documents and view presentations and spreadsheets. With the IBM Connections Mobile application (iPad only), you can connect your iPad to a projector and play a slide show for your audience in full-screen while seeing your slides, speaker notes, a timer, and an annotation tool in dual-screen mode. ^[12]

References

External links

• Website IBM
• Videos: Introduction to IBM Docs
• IBM Docs Wiki
• IBM Docs Product Documentation
• Using IBM Docs
• IBM Docs: SmartCloud for Social Business