Dreamweaver Site Synchronization Conflict Resolution for Multi‑User Editing

Answer to the Core Questions

1. Prompt for manual merge when timestamps differ but contents differ?

Dreamweaver’s built‑in sync dialog only compares timestamp and file size. If the local file is older, it offers a simple Get (overwrite local) or Put (overwrite remote). There is no built‑in diff or merge prompt, nor a setting to force a manual conflict resolution step. The application assumes a last‑write‑wins policy and leaves conflict handling to the developer.

2. Enforce server‑side lock files (.lck) across all protocols?

The .lck mechanism is purely advisory. Dreamweaver creates a .lck file on the local workspace when a file is checked out, and removes it on check‑in. FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV servers ignore this file; any client that writes to the same remote path will succeed regardless of the presence of a lock file. Dreamweaver has no option to configure or enforce locks on the server side, nor can it detect an externally created lock that would block a Put operation.

3. Integration with external version‑control tools for conflict resolution?

Dreamweaver includes a Version Control panel (added in CC 2017) that lets you commit, pull, push, and branch on a local Git repository. However, this panel operates only on the local working copy and is independent of the site synchronization dialog. During a Put/Get operation Dreamweaver does not invoke Git, nor does it provide a merge UI. Conflict resolution must therefore be performed outside Dreamweaver, using Git or another VCS tool.

Recommended Workflow for Multi‑User Editing

1. Local Development in Git
   • Configure your Dreamweaver Site to point to a local folder that is also a Git working directory.
   • Use Git branches or pull requests to manage concurrent edits.
   • Resolve any merge conflicts in your preferred Git client or IDE.
2. One‑Way Deployment with Dreamweaver
   • Once the local branch is merged and tested, use Dreamweaver’s Put to deploy the updated files to the remote server.
   • Because the remote server is now the authoritative source, any subsequent edits should be made in the local Git repo and redeployed.
3. Optional Lock‑File Convention
   • If you need an extra safety layer, adopt a convention where developers create a .lck file on the remote server (e.g., via a script) before editing. This is purely manual and cannot be enforced by Dreamweaver.
   • Document the convention in your project README so all team members are aware.

Verification Checklist

• Open Dreamweaver → Site → Manage Sites → Servers. Verify the protocol (FTP/SFTP/WebDAV) and note that no lock‑enforcement option exists.
• Create a test file, check it out in Dreamweaver, then use a separate FTP client to overwrite the remote file. Dreamweaver will only notice the change after the next sync.
• In the Files panel, right‑click a file, choose Version Control, and confirm that Git actions (Commit, Push, Pull) affect only the local repo.

Key Takeaway

Dreamweaver’s site synchronization is a simple mirror tool; it does not provide built‑in conflict detection, lock enforcement, or VCS‑integrated merge resolution. For collaborative editing, rely on a dedicated VCS workflow and use Dreamweaver only for one‑way deployment after conflicts are resolved locally.