I do like the new document library "send to" feature. That option that I know will be used in our organisation (once we train the users!) is the send to another document library.

But is it just me or does it have a number of flaws? It's almost there but not quite. A concrete example:

1) A team is working on a collaborative document and then wishes to publish to a common repository for the rest of the business. This document will undergo periodic revision but have an internal review before it makes it live.

2) The sharepoint admin sets up the team collaborative site and the common repository site.

3) The authoriser of the document publishes the document to the common repository once authorised.

Problem number 1: When the user selects the option in "Prompt the author to send out updates when the document is checked in? " it doesn't work.

If we do explicit check in/check out nothing happens or if we do saves and hence implicit check-in.

Problem number 2: If we then edit the copy directly the linkage starts to go very funny. I've then gone back to the source and recopied (by using exiting copies menu item) and now I have two links to the same location! Bravo.

Problem 3: We delete the source document, the "linked" documents still have the "go to source" link in the menu. Clicking this of course generates an error for the user. These symbolic link files really should be done properly. Deleteing the source should either delete all the copies (if we are going for the master / copies metaphor this is the winner) or they should break the link. Possibly with a warning to the user before they delete.

Problem 4: A link to a link. This occurs if you "send to" a dc lib and then "send to" a second doc lib. All well and good and valid. The issue comes if you push the original, it doesn't know about the further links. The act of overwriting the "middle" version removes the metadata that says "oh by the way you have some copies out there at these URLs". The link in the 3rd copy still points back at the middle of course.

Good but not perfect. Its like sym links have never been invented and somebody is coming at this problem from fresh.