Using Swivle

Learn about the various applications for using Swivle.

Jouke Jongsma avatar
Written by Jouke Jongsma
Updated over a week ago

Dear Swivle user, we are in the process of migrating the Swivle documentation to the main WoodWing Help Center.

The article that you are reading now will therefore not be updated anymore.

For the latest information about this topic, please visit the new version of this article.

At its core, Swivle is a central location in which files are stored. Using various applications, users can access these files to view, use, share, or edit them.

This article describes the various ways of using Swivle:

  • Swivle

  • Brand portal

  • Portals

  • Shared files

  • Swivle for InDesign

  • Management Console

  • APIs

Swivle

Swivle itself is an application that is run in a Web browser on a desktop or laptop.

It is aimed at power users who need to manage the stored files by making them searchable by adding metadata, editing the files, sharing files with other people, uploading new files, and more.

To make this possible, Swivle comes with various tools for quickly finding files (the Folder browser and the Filter), panels for changing the metadata, viewing the file history and reverting file versions, bundling related files in Collections, sharing files, and more.

Using Swivle requires a Content Manager license. To access Swivle, users need to log in.

Brand portal

The Brand portal can be seen as a basic version of Swivle: it only gives access to certain locations in the system (based on the user's access rights) using a simplified but powerful search system.

In the Brand portal, files can only be downloaded or shared with other people.

The Brand portal is aimed at regular users who need access to certain files but are not allowed to make changes to these files. Think of colleagues, sales or marketing people, external agencies, and more.

Using the Brand portal requires a Content Consumer license. To access the Brand portal, users need to log in.

Only one Brand portal exists within your Swivle environment (as opposed to having multiple 'Portals', see the next section.)

Portals

Portals can be used for showcasing specific material such as brochures and products. From it, visitors can download and optionally share files.

Portals are a variation of a Brand portal, but with the following differences:

  • Specific folders or Collections can be promoted to the front page for increased visibility and findability.

  • A title, header, and short description can be added to the home page.

  • Accessing a portal can be done anonymously.

  • Portals can be password protected.

  • Multiple Portals can be set up.

  • All visitors to the portal will see all and the same content; no access rights exist for individual visitors.

Using Portals requires a Portal license.

Shared files

One of the main features of Swivle is sharing files with other people. This is done by creating a Shared Link: a link which people can access through a Web browser on a desktop, laptop, or mobile device.

Users who access the link can be allowed to download the original file or a preview of the file, approve or reject files as part of a review, or even upload files. Making changes to the original files is not possible.

Shared links can be created in Swivle, the Brand portal, or a Portal and can be accessed by anyone who has access to the link; no license, user account, or login is required.

Swivle for InDesign

Swivle for InDesign connects Adobe InDesign or InDesign Server to Swivle. With Swivle for InDesign installed, the following can be done:

  • Placing files from Swivle onto a layout. A direct link to the file in Swivle is then made: when the file is updated in Swivle, the file that is placed on the layout is updated too.

  • Opening layouts directly from Swivle in InDesign for editing.

  • Opening placed images from the layout for editing and saving them back to Swivle as a different file type.

Swivle for InDesign primarily consists of a Swivle menu with commands for performing various actions.

The main use of Swivle for InDesign is to place files on a layout by dragging them from Swivle, and to open layouts from Swivle directly in InDesign for editing.

Using Swivle for InDesign requires a Content Manager license. To connect Swivle for InDesign with Swivle, users need to log in.

Management Console

Unlike the other applications described above, the Management Console is not used for accessing the files in Swivle but for managing the Swivle environment.

Tasks that can be performed include:

  • Managing users and user groups, including access rights.

  • Changing the branding of Swivle.

  • Managing your subscriptions.

  • Managing Portals.

  • Using APIs.

Using the Management Console requires a Content Manager license. To access the Management Console, users need to log in and need to have the role of Admin.

APIs

The Swivle REST API can be used by software developers to customize and integrate their applications with Swivle. Some examples of what can be done with the API are:

  • Searching for files.

  • Downloading files, previews, or other derived formats.

  • Uploading files.

  • Changing metadata.

  • Creating folders and Collections.

  • Creating Shared Links.

  • and much more...

Using the Swivle API requires an API license.

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