Using Commands to Manipulate Files

You can perform SCCS operations within the file list on a per-file basis or on a multiple-file basis. You can select a single file, or multiple files, on which to perform a function.

The Commands menu allows you to do the following:

• Check out a file

• Check in a file

• Edit a checked out file

• Check a new file under SCCS control

• Uncheckout a file

Checking Out and Checking In Files

This section covers the process of checking out and checking in files that are already under SCCS control.

Checking Out Files

You can use two methods for checking out files:

1. Select the file(s) you want to check out from the main window display. Then, choose Commands > Check Out.

   A check mark is displayed in the file icon(s) of the selected file(s). This method is valuable when you want to check out several files at once.

1. Double click a file icon in the main window.

   A check mark is displayed in the file icon and the file is checked out with you as the owner. This is not the default behavior. To enable this double-click action, you must change the default behavior by Choosing View > Options, selecting the Toggle SCCS State radio button in the Double Click Action section of the Options dialog box, and then selecting the Confirm Double Click Check Out checkbox (see "Changing Versioning Properties").

Checking In Files

You can use two methods for checking in files:

1. Select the file(s) you want to check in from the main window display and choose Commands > Check In. Enter the appropriate comments in the Check In dialog box and click OK.

   The check mark(s) continue to be displayed on the file icon(s) until you choose Check In from the pop-up window. This method is valuable when you want to check in several files at once and the same comment can apply to each.

1. Double click on a checked-out file icon in the main window and add the appropriate comments in the Check In dialog box and click OK.

   The check mark continues to be displayed on the file icon until you click OK in the dialog box. This is not the default behavior. To enable this double-click action, you must change the default behavior by Choosing View > Options, selecting the Toggle SCCS State radio button in the Double Click Action section of the Options dialog box, and then selecting the Confirm Double Click Check Out checkbox.

Editing a Checked-Out File

This section covers the process of checking out a file that is under SCCS control and displaying it in an editor window. The Edit menu item allows you to do this in either of the following ways:

1. To edit a file after checking it out, select the checked-out file in the Versioning window and choose File > Edit.

1. To check out a file and display it in an editor window, choose Commands > Check Out and Edit.

   The default is for the file to be brought up in a cmdtool window running vi. For instructions on selecting an editor, see "Changing Versioning Properties".

Checking in a New File

Files that are not under SCCS control are not displayed in the Versioning window. To check in a new file:

1. Double click on the directory in the Versioning window, or type the directory path in the Directory text box.

2. Choose Commands > Check In New.

   The Check In New window opens displaying a list of files not yet under SCCS control.

3. Select the file from the Check In New window display.

4. Enter the appropriate initial comments in the Initial Comments pane and choose Commands > Check In.

   The checked-in files are removed from the Check In New display and are displayed in the Versioning window Directory pane.

Unchecking Out a File

When you have mistakenly checked out a file and want to return the file to an unchecked out state, there is a simple way to do so without having to check in the file and add comments.

To uncheck out a file, select the checked out file and choose Commands > Uncheckout.