If a document is edited simultaneously by several authors or if different variants are to be managed in parallel, you may branch out the document into two or more parallel 'current versions'. Branching might also be useful where a general document is to be customized by different groups within an organization.

• Click on  Branch   for a document's entry to bring up the 'Branch' form. In the form select the version from which the branch is to originate (by clicking its radio button in the Id column) and give a name to the new document under version control.

The new document is a copy of the root version in the same folder. BSCW provides default values for version number and version state.

BSCW provides no specific support to consolidate ("re-unite") several version branches that have been modified in parallel. Therefore it is important to draft significant descriptions and to arrange the terms of version control with the other members of the workspace.