Several classes of objects can be created and shared in a BSCW workspace:

• Document
• Document under version control
• Note
• URL
• Search Result
• Folder
• Discussion
• Calendar
• Project
• Document Set
• Email (RFC 822)
• Circulation Folder
• Task
• Communities

In Figure 1.4-1, the folder page of Demo Folder shows an entry for each object type.

Each object is represented by an entry starting with a checkbox that you may "tick" to select the object, some icons, additional data and a popup action menu button (see 1.4.5).

 

Figure 1.4-2: Representation of an object

Click the   icon on the left to display the object's info page (see 4.6).

The icon immediately left of the object name denotes the object type. If the object is a document, the icon may represent its MIME type (see 3.3.2). If it is a search result (see 4.10), the icon informs about the search area and the search engine employed. If it is a note (see 4.9), the icon may represent a pragmatic aspect picked by the note's author.

BSCW's object types are discussed in greater detail in section 3.2.

Most prominent in each entry is the name of the object. In Fig. 1.4-1 each object has been given the name of its object type. Obviously, you would choose names describing the content or purpose of each individual object. Since BSCW is designed to make sharing of information easier, it is very important to use descriptive names which will be understood by the other people sharing the workspace.

Behind the object name BSCW displays additional information about the object (depending on the oject type and the selected view preferences). For example:

• the objects size
  • in case of a folder: how many objects it contains
  • in other cases except from URLs: the size shown in byte, kilobyte or megabyte
• Zero, one or more of the following icons:
  indicates that a folder is shared;
  indicates that someone has set a lock for this object (see 3.3.2);
  indicates that a note has been added to the object (see 4.9.6);
  indicates how the document has been rated by one or more group members;
• the name of its owner or creator
• date and time of the most recent modification;
• zero, one or more icons indicating that some of the following events have occurred:
  indicates a new object;
  indicates changes to the object;
  indicates that someone read the object;
  indicates recent modifications in a sub-object;
• a popup menu button   showing the actions involving the object (see 3.3.4).

Please note that different actions are possible for different types of objects. In figure 1.4-6 a few of the action menu entries permitted for an object are shown.