Core
How Files Work
Section titled “How Files Work”Now that we’ve covered why BackOps rethought file management, let’s look at how it actually works.
At the center of BackOps Files is the concept of a file object. Unlike traditional file storage—where you manage dozens of separate files and folders—BackOps organizes everything around a single file record with a clear structure designed for production workflows.
1. Versions
Section titled “1. Versions”Every file in BackOps is made up of versions.
As files evolve throughout a project—whether it’s a rigging plot, a stage layout, or a document—you simply upload a new version. Each version:
- Tracks its own approvals and reviews, so conversations and sign-offs stay tied to the correct iteration.
- Maintains a comment history, so you can easily follow feedback from one version to the next.
- Lives under a single file record, keeping your workspace organized and avoiding “Version 12_FINAL_FINAL.pdf” chaos.
Example:
Start with “Lighting Plot v1.” As revisions come in, you upload “Lighting Plot v2,” collect approvals, and maintain all related comments—without creating separate files or losing context.
2. Formats
Section titled “2. Formats”Within each version, BackOps supports multiple formats.
In live production, it’s common for the same file to exist in several different formats—for example, a single lighting plot might include:
- Vectorworks (.vwx) for drafting
- PDF for quick review
- DWG for compatibility with other teams
- MVR for visualization
- Images for reference
Instead of scattering these across folders, BackOps allows you to upload all of these formats into the same version of a single file.
When someone downloads the file, they simply choose which format they need. And if a format is web-viewable—like PDFs or images—it will display a preview right inside BackOps, so you don’t even have to download it.
Why This Matters
Section titled “Why This Matters”By organizing files around versions and formats, BackOps solves two of the biggest pain points in production file management:
- No more hunting through folders to figure out which file is the latest version.
- No more duplicating files just to store multiple exports in different formats.
Instead, everything is structured in one place, making collaboration simple and reducing the risk of confusion.
Next, we’ll dive deeper into the other file features—like reviews, associations, and activity tracking—that make BackOps a complete production-ready file management solution.