About Locks

Locking and unlocking objects makes concurrent engineering possible. When you lock an object, this lock prevents other users from modifying it.

You can lock either the object (the reference), the usage of this object in the structure (the instance), or both.

This page discusses:

Operations Impacted by Locks

When you lock an object, other users cannot:

  • Edit its properties or geometry.
  • Move it to another collaborative space or organization, or change its owner.
  • Change its maturity state.
  • Cut or delete it.
  • Remove child objects (including specifications and documents).
  • Replace or specify a configuration context.

However, they can:

  • Revise it.
  • Duplicate it.
  • Copy/paste it
  • Add child objects.

Important: When you only lock the usage of the object, only the relationship between this usage and its parent object is locked. Other users cannot modify this relationship, that is cut/paste this usage or delete it. However, they can change the maturity state of the object, its owner, or move it to another collaborative space or organization. They can also specify its configuration context.

Lock Status

Each object in the tree is displayed with an icon indicating the lock status of the reference (the object) and the instance (the usage of this object in the structure). If the object is not locked, no icon is displayed.

Icon Description
None The object is not locked.


The instance and the reference are locked by you.


The instance is locked by you and the reference is locked by someone else.


The instance is locked by someone else and the reference is locked by you.



The instance and reference are locked by someone else.

When the Lock Status B.I. Essentials is selected, the following colors are applied to the objects in the tree and in the 3D:

Color Description


Locked by me


Locked by others


Not locked