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Check-in and check-out

Check-out allows users to lock an item so that it cannot be edited by anyone other than the user who checked it out. You can check out and check in an item implicitly or explicitly.

When you (implicitly or explicitly) check out an item, the item is locked and appears in your Checked-out Items. Only you can edit the item while it is checked out. When you check in an item. It then becomes available to other users again.

If you publish an item, only the current related items (Page, Component, Page Template, Component Template) are published. That is, if items are checked out, only the last checked-in item (the Current item) is published.

Opening an item that is not subject to workflow
If you open and modify an item, the item is checked out to you, and locked, while you modify it. Every time you save the item without closing it, you increase its minor version number (for example, from 6.0 to 6.1). When you eventually close the item, the system unlocks it and checks it back in, increasing its major version number (for example, from 6.0 to 7.0).
Explicitly checking out an item that is not subject to workflow
If you explicitly check out an item, the item is checked out to you, and locked, until you explicitly check it back in. Every time you save the item (whether you close the item or not), you increase its minor version number (for example, from 6.0 to 6.1). When you eventually explicitly check the item back in, the system unlocks it and its major version number increases (for example, from 6.0 to 7.0).
Opening an item that is subject to workflow, but has not started its Workflow Process yet
Items in a Bundle may be subject to workflow, but may at the same time not be in a Workflow Process yet. Opening such an item checks it out to you and locks it in your name. Saving it, with or without closing it, increases its minor version. Closing it puts it in a reserved state: that is, it is still checked out but locked by no user.
Explicitly checking out an item that is subject to workflow, but has not started its Workflow Process yet
Items in a Bundle may be subject to workflow, but may at the same time not be in a Workflow Process yet. Explicitly checking out such an item locks it in your name. Saving it, with or without closing it, increase its minor version. Explicitly checking it back in puts it in a reserved state: that is, it is checked out but locked by no user.
Starting workflow on a single item by creating it, or editing it after the previous Workflow Process has finished
A user can start workflow on an item by creating or reediting the item if it is subject to a single-item Workflow Process. This action does not change the major or minor version of the item in any way, but it does check the item out to the user who created or reedited it, and locks it.
Starting workflow on an item that is part of a Bundle
A user can start workflow on an item in a Bundle by putting the Bundle that contains it into workflow (if the Bundle is subject to a Bundle Workflow Process). This action does not change the major or minor version of the item in any way, nor does it change its checked-out status or lock status.
Starting a Workflow Activity
If a user starts an Activity, all items associated with that Activity are checked out to that user, if the user has read access to all of those items. The user can now modify the item(s) and finish the Activity. Alternatively, if the user does not have read access to all of the items, that user cannot modify any of the items, nor finish the Activity, but can only reassign the Activity.
Finishing a Workflow Activity
If a user finishes an Activity, all items associated with that Activity increase their minor version and remain checked out, but they now become locked by no user. The items are in a reserved state.
Finishing a Workflow Process
If an item exits workflow (that is, finishes its Workflow Process), it is checked in as a new major version. Any locks on it are released.

While an item is checked out, the item icon is displayed with a small image of a lock over it.

It also appears in the Checked-out items list of the User who (implicitly or explicitly) checked it out.