1. A method of collaboratively authoring a data file comprising: identifying at a first authoring application implemented on a first computing device an editing conflict existing between a user copy of the data file and a master copy of the data file; merging the user copy of the data file and the master copy of the data file to generate a merged copy of the data file; displaying the merged copy of the data file to the user of the first authoring application; presenting to a user a toggle interface enabling the user to toggle between displaying the identified editing conflict and hiding the identified editing conflict, the toggle interface being presented when the editing conflict is identified and remaining until the identified editing conflict has been resolved, wherein the merged copy of the data file is freely editable by the user both when the identified editing conflict is displayed and when the identified editing conflict is hidden; and providing a resolution interface enabling the user to provide resolution instructions for the identified editing conflict when the user toggles to displaying the identified editing conflict.