Abstract: A computer-based system for collaborative editing of documents has a computer-based control module and computerized workstations. The system has a database connected to the control module that stores a document in the database as linked character objects. Each character object represents one particular character of the document, includes a unique object identifier, and represents a type of the particular character. The character object represents the particular character being linked to a first character object representing a character preceding directly the particular character in the document and to a second character object representing a character following directly the particular character in the document. The control module receives and processes editing commands. The system has a propagation module for transmitting propagation messages to the workstations participating in the collaborative editing of the document, propagation messages including the character objects inserted or deleted in the database.