Use cases for file references

Bill Klish

I am working on setting up a repository and am wondering what the use cases are for using references within a repository.

I understand the concept of having shortcuts to images, and am guessing that the only advantage is the ability to not have to navigate around the repository to find the reference, if it is something to be used often, such as a logo.

Is this a feature that is heavily used?

Migrateduser

One of the most common use cases for "reference copies" of an asset is to help control access.
Take this scenario for example:
A company allows its dealers to have access to images for the products that they are authorized to distribute. The MediaBin administrator (or Someone with Full Control) controls this access for numerous dealers by having a master collection of the assets for all the products in one specific directory structure within the repository and makes reference copies of specific assets/collections of assets into a directory structure specifically designed for that dealer/type of dealer so that each dealer sees only what they have permission to see when they log in and don't have access to the master directory where all the original assets are stored. By doing it in this fashion, any time one of the product images or pieces of collateral is updated in the master directory, each reference copy is also updated.

Another use case would be when a user is building a collection of assets for use in a project and wants to create a holding tank for this collection. The user creates a private folder for themselves and makes reference copies of the assets that they are considering using for a specific project from the search results as they look and search through the repository.

Hope this helps.
- Michael