Using Repository

What Is a Repository?

An Easy Link Repository is a regular file folder of Windows, such as "c:\My Repository" and all its sub-folders, such as "c:\My Repository\Sub1":

For more information about this diagram, please click here.

A Repository is used as a place holder to keep related Visio drawings and files linked to these drawings, such as a PowerPoint presentation.

You need to specify a Repository to use before creating a Link or Bookmark.

The Easy Link Advantages

Compared with the built-in Visio Hyperlink utility, The Easy Link Repository offers the following advantages:

1. It gives you a centralized location to keep related files together.  

2. It allows you present these files as interrelated components.

3. It gives you the ability to easily back up these files, send them out as a single e-mail attachment, and restore them anywhere with all the link information.

Why Repository?

Easy Link uses a set of files (such as "AmazingVisioEasyLinkFile.ini") in your Repository to keep the information of your Links and Bookmarks.   This is especially important if you have Links and Bookmarks to access different files.  With the Repository as an information center, you can easily jump to different files with a single pop-up list:

In addition, a Repository gives you the following benefits:

1. To organize your files with your Repository's main and sub-folders.  For more information, please click here.
2. To pack all the files in a Repository in to a single compressed file.  You can then easily keep it or send it via e-mail.  For more information, please click here.

Using a Repository

To use a Repository, you simply choose a file folder either on your computer, or on a network drive.

  Click this icon on the Toolbar or the Shortcut Menu or double click on the main window.  This window shows:

Where:

• Add: To add a Repository

• Edit: To edit a Repository

• Delete: To delete a Repository.  Note that the physical folder and the files inside will not be deleted.  Therefore you can always create a new Repository later on to use them.

• OK: To choose the selected Repository.  This becomes your Current Repository.

• Help: To show this online help

Adding or Editing a Repository

Click the Add or Edit button, this window shows:

Where:

• Description: A description for your Repository
• File Folder: The Windows file folder, use the Browse button to choose
• Browse: To browse to a file folder, such as "C:\My Repository"
  
• OK: To save the changes and close this window
• Cancel: To cancel the changes and close this window
• Help: To show this online help

The Scope Display

Easy Link shows whether a file is in or out of the Repository.  For more information, please click here.

Importing Files into Your Repository

You can import files into your Repository when creating a File Link.  Please click here for more information.

Packing and Unpacking Your Repository

You can pack all the files in a Repository into a single, compressed file and restore it on any computer.  Please click here for more information.