AccuRev CLI User's Guide

Command Description
ln create an element link or symbolic link
merge merge changes from another stream into the current version of an element
move, mv move or rename elements
patch incorporate the changes from one other version into the current version
pop copy files into a workspace or reference tree
promote propagate a version from one stream to another stream
purge undo all of a workspace’s changes to an element
revert “undo” a promote transaction
start create a command shell in a workspace or reference tree
touch update the timestamp of a file
undefunct restore a previously removed element to a stream
update incorporate other people's changes into your workspace
The idea that an element is either active or passive in your workspace is essential to understanding
many of the commands in this category. Typically, as you develop a file, you’ll keep one or more
versions, then promote the most recent one, then keep another version, then promote that one,
etc. During the “keep phase” of this cycle, your workspace has a private version of the file,
containing changes that don’t exist anywhere else. The element is said to be active in your
workspace. When you promote a version to the backing stream, the element becomes passive in
your workspace. In this state, the public version of the element in the backing stream is the same
as the version in your workspace.
Note: the elements that are currently active in your workspace are said to be in the
workspace’s default group.
The add command (see Placing Files Under Version Control on page 20 above) places a file
under version control. That is, it converts an ordinary file in your workspace into a new AccuRev
element. The new element becomes active in your workspace. The ln command creates a link
object — one that points to an element (element link) or one that contains a pathname (symbolic
link) that may or may not indicate an element.
The keep command (see Checkpointing — Saving Private Versions on page 20) creates a new
version of a element in your workspace and makes the element active (if it isn’t already). Several
other commands make an element active in your workspace:
• The merge command (see Incorporating Other Users’ Work into Your Workspace on
page 24) creates and keeps a new version of a file — and so does the patch command. The
new version combines the contents of the file in your workspace and with all the changes in
another version (merge) — or just with the most recent changes in another version (patch).
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