1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
3 @setfilename ../../info/pcl-cvs
4 @settitle PCL-CVS --- Emacs Front-End to CVS
9 Copyright @copyright{} 1991-2011
10 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
13 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
14 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
15 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
16 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual'',
17 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license
18 is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
20 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
21 modify this GNU manual. Buying copies from the FSF supports it in
22 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
28 * PCL-CVS: (pcl-cvs). Emacs front-end to CVS.
31 @c The titlepage section does not appear in the Info file.
34 @c The title is printed in a large font.
35 @center @titlefont{User's Guide}
37 @center @titlefont{to}
39 @center @titlefont{PCL-CVS --- The Emacs Front-End to CVS}
46 @center Per Cederqvist
47 @center Stefan Monnier
50 @c The following two commands start the copyright page
51 @c for the printed manual. This will not appear in the Info file.
53 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
59 @c ================================================================
60 @c The real text starts here
61 @c ================================================================
63 @node Top, About PCL-CVS, (dir), (dir)
67 This manual describes PCL-CVS, the GNU Emacs front-end to CVS. It
68 is nowhere near complete, so you are advised to use @kbd{M-x
69 customize-group RET pcl-cvs @key{RET}} and to look at the documentation strings
70 of the various commands and major modes for further information.
71 @c This manual is updated to release 2.5 of PCL-CVS.
78 * About PCL-CVS:: Credits, history, @dots{}
80 * Getting started:: An introduction with a walk-through example.
81 * Buffer contents:: An explanation of the buffer contents.
82 * Selected files:: To which files are commands applied.
83 * Commands:: All commands, grouped by type.
85 * Log Edit Mode:: Major mode to edit log messages.
86 * Log View Mode:: Major mode to browse log changes.
87 @c * CVS Status Mode:: Major mode to view CVS' status output.
88 * Customization:: How you can tailor PCL-CVS to suit your needs.
89 * Bugs:: Bugs (known and unknown).
91 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
92 * Function and Variable Index:: List of functions and variables.
93 * Concept Index:: List of concepts.
94 * Key Index:: List of keystrokes.
97 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
101 * Contributors:: Contributors to PCL-CVS.
105 * Entering PCL-CVS:: Commands to invoke PCL-CVS
106 * Setting flags:: Setting flags for CVS commands
107 * Updating the buffer::
108 * Movement commands:: How to move up and down in the buffer
109 * Marking files:: How to mark files that other commands
110 will later operate on.
111 * Committing changes:: Checking in your modifications to the
113 * Editing files:: Loading files into Emacs.
114 * Getting info about files:: Display the log and status of files.
115 * Adding and removing files:: Adding and removing files
116 * Undoing changes:: Undoing changes
117 * Removing handled entries:: Uninteresting lines can easily be removed.
118 * Ignoring files:: Telling CVS to ignore generated files.
119 * Viewing differences:: Commands to @samp{diff} different versions.
120 * Invoking Ediff:: Running @samp{ediff} from @samp{*cvs*} buffer.
121 * Updating files:: Updating files that Need-update.
122 * Tagging files:: Tagging files.
123 * Miscellaneous commands:: Miscellaneous commands.
127 * Customizing Faces::
132 @node About PCL-CVS, Getting started, Top, Top
133 @chapter About PCL-CVS
134 @cindex About PCL-CVS
136 PCL-CVS is a front-end to CVS versions 1.9 and later.
137 It concisely shows the present status of a checked out module in an
138 Emacs buffer and provides single-key access to the most frequently used CVS
140 For Emacs users accustomed to VC, PCL-CVS can be thought of as a replacement
141 for VC-dired (@pxref{VC Directory Mode, , , emacs, The GNU
142 Emacs Manual}) specifically designed for CVS.
144 PCL-CVS was originally written many years ago by Per Cederqvist who
145 proudly maintained it until January 1996, at which point he released the
146 beta version 2.0b2 and passed on the maintainership to Greg A Woods.
147 Development stayed mostly dormant for a few years during which
148 version 2.0 never seemed to be able to leave the ``beta'' stage while a
149 separate XEmacs version was slowly splitting away. In late 1998,
150 Stefan Monnier picked up development again, adding some major new
151 functionality and taking over the maintenance.
154 * Contributors:: Contributors to PCL-CVS.
157 @node Contributors,, About PCL-CVS, About PCL-CVS
158 @section Contributors to PCL-CVS
162 Contributions to the package are welcome. I have limited time to work
163 on this project, but I will gladly add any code that you contribute to
164 me to this package (@pxref{Bugs}).
166 The following persons have made contributions to PCL-CVS.
170 Brian Berliner wrote CVS, together with some other contributors.
171 Without his work on CVS this package would be useless@dots{}
174 Per Cederqvist wrote most of the otherwise unattributed functions in
175 PCL-CVS as well as all the documentation.
178 @email{inge@@lysator.liu.se, Inge Wallin} wrote the skeleton of
179 @file{pcl-cvs.texi}, and gave useful comments on it. He also wrote
180 the files @file{elib-node.el} and @file{compile-all.el}. The file
181 @file{cookie.el} was inspired by Inge.@refill
184 @email{linus@@lysator.liu.se, Linus Tolke} contributed useful comments
185 on both the functionality and the documentation.@refill
188 @email{jwz@@jwz.com, Jamie Zawinski} contributed
189 @file{pcl-cvs-lucid.el}, which was later renamed to
190 @file{pcl-cvs-xemacs.el}.@refill
193 Leif Lonnblad contributed RCVS support (since superseded by the new
197 @email{jimb@@cyclic.com, Jim Blandy} contributed hooks to automatically
198 guess CVS log entries from @file{ChangeLog} contents, and initial support of
199 the new Cygnus / Cyclic remote CVS, as well as various sundry bug fixes
203 @email{kingdon@@cyclic.com, Jim Kingdon} contributed lots of fixes to
204 the build and installation procedure.
207 @email{woods@@weird.com, Greg A.@: Woods} contributed code to implement
208 the use of per-file diff buffers, and vendor join diffs with emerge and
209 ediff, as well as various and sundry bug fixes and cleanups.
212 @email{greg.klanderman@@alum.mit.edu, Greg Klanderman} implemented
213 toggling of marked files, setting of CVS command flags via prefix
214 arguments, updated the XEmacs support, updated the manual, and fixed
218 @email{monnier@@gnu.org, Stefan Monnier} added a slew of other
219 features and introduced even more new bugs. If there's any bug left,
220 you can be sure it's his.
223 @c wordy to avoid an underfull hbox
224 @email{masata-y@@is.aist-nara.ac.jp, Masatake YAMATO} made a gracious
225 contribution of his cvstree code to display a tree of tags which was later
226 superseded by the new @code{cvs-status-mode}.
229 Apart from these, a lot of people have sent us suggestions, ideas,
230 requests, bug reports and encouragement. Thanks a lot! Without you
231 there would be no new releases of PCL-CVS.
234 @node Getting started, Buffer contents, About PCL-CVS, Top
235 @chapter Getting started
238 @cindex Sample session
240 This document assumes that you know what CVS is, and that you at least
241 know the fundamental concepts of CVS. If that is not the case, you
242 should read the CVS documentation. Type @kbd{info -f cvs} or @kbd{man
245 PCL-CVS is only useful once you have checked out a module. So before
246 you invoke it, you must have a copy of a module somewhere in the file
249 You can invoke PCL-CVS by typing @kbd{M-x cvs-examine @key{RET}}.
250 You can also invoke it via the menu bar, under @samp{Tools}.
251 Or, if you prefer, you can also invoke PCL-CVS by simply visiting the
252 CVS administrative subdirectory of your module, with a prefix argument.
253 For example, to invoke PCL-CVS in a separate frame, type @kbd{C-u C-x 5
254 f ~/my/project/CVS @key{RET}}.
256 The function @code{cvs-examine} will ask for a directory. The command
257 @samp{cvs -n update} will be run in that directory. (It should contain
258 files that have been checked out from a CVS archive.) The output from
259 @code{cvs} will be parsed and presented in a table in a buffer called
260 @samp{*cvs*}. It might look something like this:
263 Repository : /usr/CVSroot
265 Working dir: /users/ceder/FOO/test
276 --------------------- End ---------------------
277 -- last cmd: cvs -f -z6 -n update -d -P --
280 In this example, your repository is in @file{/usr/CVSroot} and CVS has
281 been run in the directory @file{/users/ceder/FOO/test}. The three files
282 (@file{bar}, @file{file.txt} and
283 @file{newer}) that are marked with @samp{Need-Update} have been changed
284 by someone else in the CVS repository. Two files (@file{namechange}
285 and @file{sub/ChangeLog}) have been modified locally, and need to be
288 You can move the cursor up and down in the buffer with @kbd{C-n} and
289 @kbd{C-p} or @kbd{n} and @kbd{p}. If you press @kbd{c} on one of the
290 @samp{Modified} files, that file will be checked in to the CVS
291 repository. @xref{Committing changes}. You can also press @kbd{O} to
292 update any of the files that are marked @samp{Need-Update}. You can
293 also run @kbd{M-x cvs-update @key{RET}} (bound to @kbd{M-u} in the
294 @samp{*cvs*} buffer) to update all the files.@refill
296 You can then press @kbd{=} to easily get a @samp{diff} between your
297 modified file and the base version that you started from, or you can
298 press @kbd{l} to get the output from @samp{cvs log}. Many more such
299 commands are available simply by pressing a key (@pxref{Getting info
302 @node Buffer contents, Selected files, Getting started, Top
303 @chapter Buffer contents
304 @cindex Buffer contents
305 @cindex @code{*cvs*} buffer contents
307 The display contains several columns, some of which are optional.
308 These columns are, from left to right:
313 Optionally, the head revision of the file. This is the latest version
314 found in the repository. It might also contain (instead of the head
315 revision) a sub status which typically gives further information about
316 how we got to the current state, for example @samp{patched},
317 @samp{merged}, @dots{}
320 An asterisk when the file is @dfn{marked} (@pxref{Selected
324 The actual status of the file wrt the repository. See below.
327 Optionally, the base revision of the file. This is the version
328 which the copy in your working directory is based upon.
335 The @samp{file status} field can have the following values:
339 The file is modified in your working directory, and there was no
340 modification to the same file in the repository. This status can have
341 the following substatus:
345 The file was modified in your working directory, and there were
346 modifications in the repository as well, but they were merged
347 successfully, without conflict, in your working directory.@refill
351 A conflict was detected while trying to merge your changes to @var{file}
352 with changes from the repository. @var{file} (the copy in your
353 working directory) is now the output of the @code{rcsmerge} command on
354 the two versions; an unmodified copy of your file is also in your
355 working directory, with the name @file{.#@var{file}.@var{version}},
356 where @var{version} is the RCS revision that your modified file started
357 from. @xref{Viewing differences}, for more details.@refill
359 A conflict can also come from a disagreement on the existence of the file
360 rather than on its content. This case is indicated by the following
365 The file is locally removed but a new revision has been committed to
366 the repository by someone else.
369 The file is locally added and has also been added to the repository
373 The file is locally modified but someone else has removed it from the
378 The file has been added by you, but it still needs to be checked in to
379 the repository.@refill
382 The file has been removed by you, but it still needs to be checked in to
383 the repository. You can resurrect it by typing @kbd{a} (@pxref{Adding
384 and removing files}).@refill
387 A file that was detected in your directory, but that neither appears in
388 the repository, nor is present on the list of files that CVS should
392 The file is up to date with respect to the version in the repository.
393 This status can have a substatus of:
397 You have just added the file to the repository.@refill
400 The file was brought up to date with respect to the repository. This is
401 done for any file that exists in the repository but not in your source,
402 and for files that you haven't changed but are not the most recent
403 versions available in the repository.@refill
406 The file was brought up to date with respect to the remote repository by
407 way of fetching and applying a patch to the file in your source. This
408 is equivalent to @samp{updated} except that CVS decided to use a hopefully
409 more efficient method.@refill
412 You just committed the file.@refill
416 Either a newer version than the one in your source is available in the
417 repository and you have not modified your checked out version, or the
418 file exists in the repository but not in your source. Use
419 @samp{cvs-mode-update} bound to @kbd{O} to update the file.@refill
422 You have modified the checked out version of the file, and a newer
423 version is available in the repository. A merge will take place when
424 you run a @samp{cvs-update}.
427 The file has been unexpectedly removed from your working directory
428 although it has not been @samp{cvs remove}d.
431 @node Selected files, Commands, Buffer contents, Top
432 @chapter Selected files
433 @cindex Selected files
435 @cindex File selection
439 Many of the commands work on the current set of @dfn{selected} files
440 which can be either the set of marked files (if any file is marked and
441 marks are not ignored) or whichever file or directory the cursor is on.
443 If a directory is selected but the command cannot be applied to a
444 directory, then it will be applied to the set of files under this
445 directory which are in the @samp{*cvs*} buffer.
447 @findex cvs-mode-force-command
448 @findex cvs-allow-dir-commit
449 Furthermore, each command only operates on a subset of the selected
450 files, depending on whether or not the command is @dfn{applicable} to
451 each file (based on the file's status). For example,
452 @code{cvs-mode-commit} is not applicable to a file whose status is
453 @samp{Need-Update}. If it should happen that PCL-CVS guesses the
454 applicability wrong, you can override it with the special prefix
455 @code{cvs-mode-force-command} normally bound to @kbd{M-f} (and file a
456 bug report). The applicability rule can be slightly changed with
457 @code{cvs-allow-dir-commit} and @code{cvs-force-dir-tag}.
459 By default, marks are always in effect (you may change this, however, by
460 setting the variable @code{cvs-default-ignore-marks}) except for the
461 commands that @samp{tag} or @samp{diff} a file (which can be changed
462 with the variable @code{cvs-invert-ignore-marks}).
464 In addition, you may use the special prefix @code{cvs-mode-toggle-marks}
465 normally bound to @key{T} to toggle the use of marks for the following
468 This scheme might seem a little complicated, but once one gets used to
469 it, it is quite powerful.
471 For commands to mark and unmark files, see @ref{Marking files}.
473 @node Commands, Log Edit Mode, Selected files, Top
477 This chapter describes all the commands that you can use in PCL-CVS.
480 The nodes in this menu contains explanations about all the commands that
481 you can use in PCL-CVS. They are grouped together by type.
485 * Entering PCL-CVS:: Commands to invoke PCL-CVS
486 * Setting flags:: Setting flags for CVS commands
487 * Updating the buffer::
488 * Movement commands:: How to move up and down in the buffer
489 * Marking files:: How to mark files that other commands
490 will later operate on.
491 * Committing changes:: Checking in your modifications to the
493 * Editing files:: Loading files into Emacs.
494 * Getting info about files:: Display the log and status of files.
495 * Adding and removing files:: Adding and removing files
496 * Undoing changes:: Undoing changes
497 * Removing handled entries:: Uninteresting lines can easily be removed.
498 * Ignoring files:: Telling CVS to ignore generated files.
499 * Viewing differences:: Commands to @samp{diff} different versions.
500 * Invoking Ediff:: Running @samp{ediff} from @samp{*cvs*} buffer.
501 * Updating files:: Updating files that Need-update.
502 * Tagging files:: Tagging files.
503 * Miscellaneous commands:: Miscellaneous commands.
507 @node Entering PCL-CVS, Setting flags, Commands, Commands
508 @section Entering PCL-CVS
514 @cindex Creating the *cvs* buffer
516 Most commands in PCL-CVS require that you have a @samp{*cvs*}
517 buffer. The commands that you use to get one are listed below.
518 For each, a @samp{cvs} process will be run, the output will be parsed by
519 PCL-CVS, and the result will be printed in the @samp{*cvs*} buffer (see
520 @ref{Buffer contents}, for a description of the buffer's contents).
524 Run a @samp{cvs update} command. You will be asked for the directory
525 in which the @samp{cvs update} will be run.
527 @item M-x cvs-examine
528 Run a @samp{cvs -n update} command. This is identical to the previous
529 command, except that it will only check what needs to be done but will
530 not change anything. You will be asked for the directory in
531 which the @samp{cvs -n update} will be run.
534 Run a @samp{cvs status} command. You will be asked for the directory
535 in which the @samp{cvs status} will be run.
537 @item M-x cvs-checkout
538 Run a @samp{cvs checkout} command. You will be asked for the directory
539 in which the @samp{cvs update} will be run and the module to be checked
542 @item M-x cvs-quickdir
543 Populate the @samp{*cvs*} buffer by just looking at the @file{CVS/Entries}
544 files. This is very much like @code{cvs-examine} except that it does
545 not access the CVS repository, which is a major advantage when the
546 repository is far away. But of course, it will not be able to detect
547 when a file needs to be updated or merged.
550 @findex cvs-dired-action
551 @findex cvs-dired-use-hook
553 those commands are also reachable from the menu bar
554 under @samp{Tools->PCL-CVS}. Finally, an alternative way is to visit
555 the CVS administrative subdirectory in your work area with a simple
556 prefix argument. For example @kbd{C-u C-x C-f ~/my/work/CVS @key{RET}}. This
557 by default runs @code{cvs-quickdir} but the specific behavior can be
558 changed with @code{cvs-dired-action} and @code{cvs-dired-use-hook}.
560 By default, the commands above will descend recursively into
561 subdirectories. You can avoid that behavior by including @samp{-l} in
562 the flags for the command. These flags can be set by giving a prefix
563 argument to the command (e.g., by typing
564 @kbd{C-u M-x cvs-update @key{RET} -l @key{RET}}).
567 @node Setting flags, Updating the buffer, Entering PCL-CVS, Commands
568 @section Setting flags for CVS commands
569 @cindex Optional switches to CVS
570 @cindex Command-line options to CVS
572 This section describes the convention used by nearly all PCL-CVS
573 commands for setting optional flags sent to CVS. A single @kbd{C-u}
574 prefix argument is used to cause the command to prompt for flags to be
575 used for the current invocation of the command only. Two @kbd{C-u} prefix
576 arguments are used to prompt for flags which will be set permanently, for the
577 current invocation and all that follow, until the flags are changed, or
578 unless temporary flags are set which override them.
580 Perhaps an example or two is in order. Say you are about to add a
581 binary file to the repository, and want to specify the flags @samp{-kb}
582 to @samp{cvs add}. You can type @kbd{C-u a -kb @key{RET}},
583 and the file will be added. Subsequent @samp{cvs add}
584 commands will use the previously prevailing flags.
586 As a second example, say you are about to perform a diff and want to see
587 the result in unified diff format, i.e. you'd like to pass the flag
588 @samp{-u} to both @samp{cvs diff} and @samp{diff}. You'd also like all
589 subsequent diffs to use this flag. You can type @kbd{C-u C-u = -u @key{RET}}
590 and the diff will be performed, and the default flags will be set to
591 @code{("-u")}. You can of course override this flag for a single diff
592 by using a single @kbd{C-u} prefix argument.
594 @cindex Special prefix
595 In addition to this, some commands can take @dfn{special prefix} arguments.
596 These work as follows: When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, the user is
597 prompted for a new value of the special prefix and the special prefix is
598 activated for the next command. When called without the @kbd{C-u}
599 prefix, the special prefix is re-activated (with the same value as last
600 time) for the next command. Calling the prefix command again when it's
601 already activated deactivates it. Calling it with the @kbd{C-u C-u}
602 prefix activates it for all subsequent commands until you deactivate it
603 explicitly. The special prefixes are:
607 Toggles whether or not marks will be active in the next command.@refill
610 Provide the next command with a branch (can be any version
611 specifier) to work on.@refill
614 Secondary branch argument. Only meaningful if @kbd{b} is also used.
615 It can be used to provide a second branch argument to
616 @code{cvs-mode-diff} or to @code{cvs-mode-update}.
619 Forces the next command to apply to every selected file rather than only
620 to the ones PCL-CVS thinks are relevant.
623 @node Updating the buffer, Movement commands, Setting flags, Commands
624 @section Updating the @samp{*cvs*} buffer
628 @findex cvs-mode-update
629 @findex cvs-mode-examine
630 @findex cvs-mode-status
632 The following commands can be used from within the @samp{*cvs*} buffer
633 to update the display:
637 Runs the command @samp{cvs-update}.@refill
640 Runs the command @samp{cvs-examine}.@refill
643 Runs the command @samp{cvs-status}.@refill
646 In addition to the above commands which operate on the whole module,
647 you can run the equivalent CVS command on just a subset of the
648 files/directories with these keys:
652 Runs @code{cvs-mode-update} on the selected files. When run on the
653 top-level directory, this is equivalent to @kbd{M-u}.@refill
656 Runs @code{cvs-mode-examine} on the selected files. When run on the
657 top-level directory, this is equivalent to @kbd{M-e}.@refill
659 @findex cvs-status-mode
661 Runs @code{cvs-mode-status} on the selected files. When run on the
662 top-level directory, this is equivalent to @kbd{M-s}, except that
663 CVS output will be shown in a @samp{*cvs-info*} buffer that will be
664 put in @samp{cvs-status-mode}.@refill
668 @node Movement commands, Marking files, Updating the buffer, Commands
669 @section Movement Commands
670 @cindex Movement Commands
671 @findex cvs-mode-next-line
672 @findex cvs-mode-previous-line
673 @kindex SPC@r{--Move down one file}
674 @kindex n@r{--Move down one file}
675 @kindex p@r{--Move up one file}
677 You can use most normal Emacs commands to move forward and backward in
678 the buffer. Some keys are rebound to functions that take advantage of
679 the fact that the buffer is a PCL-CVS buffer:
685 These keys move the cursor one file forward, towards the end of the
686 buffer (@code{cvs-mode-next-line}).@refill
689 This key moves one file backward, towards the beginning of the buffer
690 (@code{cvs-mode-previous-line}).
694 @node Marking files, Committing changes, Movement commands, Commands
695 @section Marking files
696 @cindex Selecting files (commands to mark files)
697 @cindex Marking files
698 @kindex m@r{--marking a file}
699 @kindex M@r{--marking all files}
700 @kindex u@r{--unmark a file}
701 @kindex ESC DEL@r{--unmark all files}
702 @kindex DEL@r{--unmark previous file}
703 @kindex %@r{--mark files matching regexp}
704 @kindex S@r{--mark files in a particular state}
705 @kindex T@r{--toggle marks}
706 @findex cvs-mode-mark
707 @findex cvs-mode-unmark
708 @findex cvs-mode-mark-all-files
709 @findex cvs-mode-unmark-all-files
710 @findex cvs-mode-unmark-up
711 @findex cvs-mode-mark-matching-files
712 @findex cvs-mode-mark-on-state
713 @findex cvs-mode-toggle-marks
715 PCL-CVS works on a set of @dfn{selected files} (@pxref{Selected files}).
716 You can mark and unmark files with these commands:
720 This marks the file that the cursor is positioned on. If the cursor is
721 positioned on a directory all files in that directory are marked
722 (@code{cvs-mode-mark}).@refill
725 Unmark the file that the cursor is positioned on. If the cursor is on a
726 directory, all files in that directory are unmarked
727 (@code{cvs-mode-unmark}).@refill
730 Mark @emph{all} files in the buffer (@code{cvs-mode-mark-all-files}).
733 Unmark @emph{all} files (@code{cvs-mode-unmark-all-files}).
736 Unmark the file on the previous line, and move point to that line
737 (@code{cvs-mode-unmark-up}).
740 Mark all files matching a regular expression
741 (@code{cvs-mode-mark-matching-files}).
744 Mark all files in a particular state, such as ``Modified'' or
745 ``Removed'' (@code{cvs-mode-mark-on-state}).
748 Toggle use of marks for the next command (@code{cvs-mode-toggle-marks}).
752 @node Committing changes, Editing files, Marking files, Commands
753 @section Committing changes
754 @cindex Committing changes
755 @findex cvs-mode-commit
756 @findex cvs-mode-commit-setup
757 @kindex c@r{--commit files}
758 @kindex C@r{--commit files with @file{ChangeLog} message}
759 @vindex cvs-auto-revert@r{ (variable)}
760 @cindex Commit buffer
762 @cindex Erasing commit message
763 @cindex Reverting buffers after commit
765 Committing changes basically works as follows:
769 After having selected the files you want to commit, you type either
770 @kbd{c} or @kbd{C} which brings up a special buffer
771 @samp{*cvs-commit*}.@refill
774 You type in the log message describing the changes you're about to
775 commit (@pxref{Log Edit Mode}).
778 When you're happy with it, you type @kbd{C-c C-c} to do the actual
782 There's no hidden state, so you can abort the process or pick it up
785 @vindex log-edit-confirm@r{ (variable)}
786 The set of files actually committed is really decided only during the
787 very last step, which is a mixed blessing. It allows you to go back and
788 change your mind about which files to commit, but it also means that you
789 might inadvertently change the set of selected files. To reduce the
790 risk of error, @kbd{C-c C-c} will ask for confirmation if the set of
791 selected files has changed between the first step and the last. You can
792 change this last detail with @code{log-edit-confirm}.
794 As for the difference between @kbd{c} (i.e. @code{cvs-mode-commit}) and
795 @kbd{C} (i.e. @code{cvs-mode-commit-setup}) is that the first gets you
796 straight to @samp{*cvs-commit*} without erasing it or changing anything
797 to its content, while the second first erases @samp{*cvs-commit*}
798 and tries to initialize it with a sane default (it does that by either
799 using a template provided by the CVS administrator or by extracting a
800 relevant log message from a @file{ChangeLog} file).
802 If you are editing the files in your Emacs, an automatic
803 @samp{revert-buffer} will be performed. (If the file contains
804 @samp{$@asis{Id}$} keywords, @samp{cvs commit} will write a new file with
805 the new values substituted. The auto-revert makes sure that you get
806 them into your buffer.) The revert will not occur if you have modified
807 your buffer, or if @samp{cvs-auto-revert} is set to
811 @node Editing files, Getting info about files, Committing changes, Commands
812 @section Editing files
813 @cindex Editing files
814 @cindex Finding files
815 @cindex Loading files
817 @cindex Invoking dired
818 @findex cvs-mode-find-file
819 @findex cvs-mode-find-file-other-window
820 @findex cvs-mode-add-change-log-entry-other-window
821 @kindex f@r{--find file or directory}
822 @kindex o@r{--find file in other window}
823 @kindex A@r{--add @file{ChangeLog} entry}
825 There are currently three commands that can be used to find a file (that
826 is, load it into a buffer and start editing it there). These commands
827 work on the line that the cursor is situated at. They always ignore any marked
832 Find the file that the cursor points to (@code{cvs-mode-find-file}). If
833 the cursor points to a directory, run @code{dired} on that directory;
834 @inforef{Dired, , emacs}.
837 Like @kbd{f}, but use another window
838 (@code{cvs-mode-find-file-other-window}).@refill
841 Invoke @samp{add-change-log-entry-other-window} to edit a
842 @file{ChangeLog} file. The @file{ChangeLog} file will be found in the
843 directory of the file the cursor points to, or in a parent of that
844 directory (@code{cvs-mode-add-change-log-entry-other-window}).@refill
848 @node Getting info about files, Adding and removing files, Editing files, Commands
849 @section Getting info about files
850 @cindex Status (cvs command)
851 @cindex Log (RCS/cvs command)
852 @cindex Getting status
853 @kindex l@r{--run @samp{cvs log}}
854 @kindex s@r{--run @samp{cvs status}}
856 @findex cvs-mode-status
860 Call the command @code{cvs-mode-log} which runs @samp{cvs log} on all
861 selected files, and show the result in a temporary buffer
862 @samp{*cvs-info*} (@pxref{Log View Mode}).
865 Call the command @code{cvs-mode-status} which runs @samp{cvs status} on
866 all selected files, and show the result in a temporary buffer
868 @c Fixme: reinstate when node is written:
869 @c (@pxref{CVS Status Mode}).
873 @node Adding and removing files, Undoing changes, Getting info about files, Commands
874 @section Adding and removing files
876 @cindex Removing files
877 @cindex Resurrecting files
878 @cindex Deleting files
879 @cindex Putting files under CVS control
880 @kindex a@r{--add a file}
881 @kindex r@r{--remove a file}
883 @findex cvs-mode-remove-file
885 The following commands are available to make it easy to add files to
886 and remove them from the CVS repository.
890 Add all selected files. This command can be used on @samp{Unknown}
891 files (@pxref{Buffer contents}). The status of the file will change to
892 @samp{Added}, and you will have to use @kbd{c} (@samp{cvs-mode-commit}
893 @pxref{Committing changes}), to really add the file to the
896 This command can also be used on @samp{Removed} files (before you commit
897 them) to resurrect them.
899 The command that is run is @code{cvs-mode-add}.
902 This command removes the selected files (after prompting for
903 confirmation). The files are deleted from your directory and
904 (unless the status was @samp{Unknown}; @pxref{Buffer contents}) they will
905 also be @samp{cvs remove}d. If the files' status was @samp{Unknown}
906 they will disappear from the buffer. Otherwise their status will change to
907 @samp{Removed}, and you must use @kbd{c} (@samp{cvs-mode-commit},
908 @pxref{Committing changes}) to commit the removal.@refill
910 The command that is run is @code{cvs-mode-remove-file}.
914 @node Undoing changes, Removing handled entries, Adding and removing files, Commands
915 @section Undoing changes
917 @cindex Flush changes
918 @kindex U@r{--undo changes}
919 @findex cvs-mode-undo-local-changes
923 If you have modified a file, and for some reason decide that you don't
924 want to keep the changes, you can undo them with this command. It works
925 by removing your working copy of the file and then getting the latest
926 version from the repository (@code{cvs-mode-undo-local-changes}).
930 @node Removing handled entries, Ignoring files, Undoing changes, Commands
931 @section Removing handled entries
932 @cindex Expunging uninteresting entries
933 @cindex Uninteresting entries, getting rid of them
934 @cindex Getting rid of uninteresting lines
935 @cindex Removing uninteresting (processed) lines
936 @cindex Handled lines, removing them
937 @kindex x@r{--remove processed entries}
938 @kindex C-k@r{--remove selected entries}
939 @findex cvs-mode-remove-handled
940 @findex cvs-mode-acknowledge
941 @findex cvs-mode-ignore
945 This command allows you to remove all entries that you have processed.
946 More specifically, the lines for @samp{Up-to-date} files (@pxref{Buffer
947 contents}) are removed from the buffer. If a directory becomes empty
948 the heading for that directory is also removed. This makes it easier to
949 get an overview of what needs to be done.
951 @vindex cvs-mode-remove-handled@r{ (variable)}
952 @kbd{x} invokes @code{cvs-mode-remove-handled}. If
953 @samp{cvs-auto-remove-handled} is set to non-@code{nil}, this will
954 automatically be performed after every commit.@refill
957 This command can be used for lines that @samp{cvs-mode-remove-handled} would
958 not delete, but that you want to delete (@code{cvs-mode-acknowledge}).
962 @node Ignoring files, Viewing differences, Removing handled entries, Commands
963 @section Ignoring files
964 @cindex Ignoring files
965 @kindex i@r{--ignoring files}
966 @findex cvs-mode-ignore
970 Arrange so that CVS will ignore the selected files. The file names are
971 added to the @file{.cvsignore} file in the corresponding directory. If
972 the @file{.cvsignore} file doesn't exist, it will be created.
974 The @file{.cvsignore} file should normally be added to the repository,
975 but you could ignore it as well, if you like it better that way.
977 This runs @code{cvs-mode-ignore}.
980 @node Viewing differences, Invoking Ediff, Ignoring files, Commands
981 @section Viewing differences
983 @cindex Invoking @code{diff}
984 @cindex Conflicts, how to resolve them
985 @cindex Viewing differences
986 @kindex d=@r{--run @samp{cvs diff}}
987 @kindex =@r{--run @samp{cvs diff}}
988 @kindex db@r{--diff against base version}
989 @kindex dh@r{--diff against head of repository}
990 @kindex dr@r{--diff between base and head of repository}
991 @kindex dv@r{--diff against vendor branch}
992 @kindex dy@r{--diff against yesterday's head}
993 @findex cvs-mode-diff
994 @findex cvs-mode-diff-backup
995 @findex cvs-mode-diff-head
996 @findex cvs-mode-diff-repository
997 @findex cvs-mode-diff-vendor
998 @findex cvs-mode-diff-yesterday
999 @vindex cvs-invert-ignore-marks@r{ (variable)}
1004 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the selected files and the version
1005 that they are based on (@code{cvs-mode-diff}).@refill
1008 If CVS finds a conflict while merging two versions of a file (during a
1009 @samp{cvs update}, @pxref{Updating the buffer}) it will save the
1010 original file in a file called @file{.#@var{file}.@var{version}} where
1011 @var{file} is the name of the file, and @var{version} is the revision
1012 number that @var{file} was based on.@refill
1014 With the @kbd{d b} command you can run a @samp{diff} on the files
1015 @file{.#@var{file}.@var{version}} and @file{@var{file}}.@refill
1018 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the selected files and the head
1019 revision (the most recent version on the current
1020 branch) in the repository (@code{cvs-mode-diff-head}).@refill
1023 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the base revision of the selected
1024 files and the head revision in the repository. This displays the
1025 changes anyone has committed to the repository since you last executed
1026 a checkout, update or commit operation
1027 (@code{cvs-mode-diff-repository}).
1030 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the selected files and the head
1031 revision of the vendor branch in the repository
1032 (@code{cvs-mode-diff-vendor}).@refill
1035 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the selected files and yesterday's
1036 head revision in the repository
1037 (@code{cvs-mode-diff-yesterday}).@refill
1040 By default, @samp{diff} commands ignore the marks. This can be changed
1041 with @code{cvs-invert-ignore-marks}.
1043 @node Invoking Ediff, Updating files, Viewing differences, Commands
1044 @section Running ediff
1046 @cindex Invoking ediff
1047 @cindex Viewing differences
1048 @cindex Conflicts, how to resolve them
1049 @cindex Resolving conflicts
1050 @kindex e@r{--invoke @samp{ediff}}
1051 @findex cvs-mode-idiff
1052 @findex cvs-mode-imerge
1055 @vindex cvs-idiff-imerge-handlers@r{ (variable)}
1057 This uses @code{ediff} (or @code{emerge}, depending on
1058 @samp{cvs-idiff-imerge-handlers}) to allow you to view diffs.
1059 If a prefix argument is given, PCL-CVS will prompt for a revision against
1060 which the diff should be made, else the default will be to use the BASE
1063 @cindex Merging with @code{ediff} and @code{emerge}
1065 This command use @code{ediff} (or @code{emerge}, see above) to allow you
1066 to do an interactive 3-way merge.
1068 @strong{Please note:} when the file status is @samp{Conflict},
1069 CVS has already performed a merge. The resulting file is not used in
1070 any way if you use this command. If you use the @kbd{q} command inside
1071 @samp{ediff} (to successfully terminate a merge) the file that CVS
1072 created will be overwritten.@refill
1075 @node Updating files, Tagging files, Invoking Ediff, Commands
1076 @section Updating files
1077 @findex cvs-mode-update
1078 @cindex Updating files
1079 @kindex O@r{--update files}
1083 Update all selected files with status @samp{Need-update} by running
1084 @samp{cvs update} on them (@code{cvs-mode-update}).
1088 @node Tagging files, Miscellaneous commands, Updating files, Commands
1089 @section Tagging files
1090 @findex cvs-mode-tag
1091 @findex cvs-mode-untag
1093 @cindex Tagging files
1094 @kindex M-t@r{--repository tag files}
1095 @kindex t@r{--tag files}
1096 @vindex cvs-invert-ignore-marks@r{ (variable)}
1097 @vindex cvs-force-dir-tag@r{ (variable)}
1101 Tag all selected files by running @samp{cvs tag} on
1102 them (@code{cvs-mode-tag}). It's usually preferable to tag a directory
1103 at a time. Rather than selecting all files (which too often doesn't
1104 select all files but only the few that are displayed), clear the
1105 selection with @kbd{M-DEL} (@code{cvs-mode-unmark-all-files}), position
1106 the cursor on the directory you want to tag and hit @kbd{t}.
1109 By default, @samp{tag} commands ignore the marks. This can be changed
1110 with @code{cvs-invert-ignore-marks}. Also, by default @samp{tag} can
1111 only be applied to directories, see @code{cvs-force-dir-tag} if you want
1112 to change this behavior.
1115 @node Miscellaneous commands, , Tagging files, Commands
1116 @section Miscellaneous commands
1117 @findex cvs-mode-byte-compile-files
1118 @cindex Recompiling elisp files
1119 @cindex Byte compilation
1120 @findex cvs-mode-delete-lock
1121 @cindex Getting rid of lock files
1123 @kindex q@r{--bury the PCL-CVS buffer}
1124 @findex cvs-bury-buffer
1125 @findex cvs-mode-quit
1133 @item M-x cvs-mode-byte-compile-files
1134 Byte compile all selected files that end in @file{.el}.
1136 @item M-x cvs-mode-delete-lock
1137 This command deletes the lock files that
1138 the @samp{*cvs*} buffer informs you about. You should normally never have to
1139 use this command, since CVS tries very carefully to always remove the
1142 You can only use this command when a message in the @samp{*cvs*} buffer tells
1143 you so. You should wait a while before using this command in case
1144 someone else is running a @code{cvs} command.
1146 Also note that this only works if the repository is local.
1150 Show a summary of common command key bindings in the echo
1151 area (@code{cvs-help}).
1154 Bury the PCL-CVS buffer (@code{cvs-bury-buffer}).
1156 @item M-x cvs-mode-quit
1157 Quit PCL-CVS, killing the @samp{*cvs*} buffer.
1160 @node Log Edit Mode, Log View Mode, Commands, Top
1161 @chapter Editing a Log Message
1163 @cindex Log Edit mode
1164 @cindex mode, Log Edit
1165 Buffers for entering/editing log messages for changes which are about
1166 to be committed are put into Log Edit mode.
1168 Sometimes the log buffer contains default text when you enter it,
1169 typically the last log message entered. If it does, mark and point
1170 are set around the entire contents of the buffer so that it is easy to
1171 kill the contents of the buffer with @kbd{C-w}.
1173 @findex log-edit-insert-changelog
1174 If you work by writing entries in the @file{ChangeLog}
1175 (@pxref{(emacs)Change Log}) and then commit the change under revision
1176 control, you can generate the Log Edit text from the ChangeLog using
1177 @kbd{C-c C-a} (@kbd{log-edit-insert-changelog}). This looks for
1178 entries for the file(s) concerned in the top entry in the ChangeLog
1179 and uses those paragraphs as the log text. This text is only inserted
1180 if the top entry was made under your user name on the current date.
1181 @xref{(emacs)Change Logs and VC}, for the opposite way of
1182 working---generating ChangeLog entries from the revision control log.
1184 In the Log Edit buffer, @kbd{C-c C-f} (@kbd{M-x log-edit-show-files})
1185 shows the list of files to be committed in case you need to check
1188 When you have finished editing the log message, type @kbd{C-c C-c} to
1189 exit the buffer and commit the change.
1191 @c Fixme: customization variables
1193 @node Log View Mode, Customization, Log Edit Mode, Top
1194 @chapter Browsing a Log of Changes
1196 @cindex Log View mode
1197 @cindex mode, Log View
1198 @cindex output, logs
1200 @findex cvs-mode-log
1201 @findex vc-print-log
1202 Log View mode provides a few useful commands for navigating revision
1203 control log output. It is used for the output buffers of both
1204 @code{cvs-mode-log} and @code{vc-print-log}.
1206 In this mode, @kbd{n} goes to the next message and @kbd{p} goes to the
1207 previous message and @kbd{N} and @kbd{P} go to the next and previous
1208 files, respectively, in multi-file output. With a numeric prefix
1209 argument, these commands move that many messages of files.
1211 @c @node CVS Status Mode
1212 @c @chapter Viewing CVS' Status output
1214 @node Customization, Bugs, Log View Mode, Top
1215 @chapter Customization
1216 @vindex log-edit-changelog-full-paragraphs@r{ (variable)}
1217 @vindex cvs-auto-remove-handled@r{ (variable)}
1218 @vindex cvs-auto-remove-directories@r{ (variable)}
1219 @vindex cvs-update-prog-output-skip-regexp@r{ (variable)}
1220 @vindex cvs-cvsroot@r{ (variable)}
1221 @vindex cvs-auto-revert@r{ (variable)}
1222 @vindex log-edit-require-final-newline@r{ (variable)}
1223 @vindex cvs-sort-ignore-file@r{ (variable)}
1224 @cindex Customization
1225 @cindex Variables, list of all
1226 @cindex Erasing input buffer
1227 @cindex Context diff, how to get
1228 @cindex Unidiff, how to get
1229 @cindex Automatically remove handled files
1230 @cindex @samp{-u} option in modules file
1231 @cindex Modules file (@samp{-u} option)
1232 @cindex Update program (@samp{-u} option in modules file)
1233 @cindex Reverting buffers after commit
1234 @cindex Require final newline
1235 @cindex Automatically inserting newline
1236 @cindex Commit message, inserting newline
1237 @cindex Sorting @file{.cvsignore} file
1238 @cindex @file{.cvsignore} file, sorting
1239 @cindex Automatically sorting @file{.cvsignore}
1240 @cindex @samp{CVSROOT}, overriding
1242 If you have an idea about any customization that would be handy but
1243 isn't present in this list, please tell us!
1244 For info on how to reach us, see @ref{Bugs}.@refill
1247 @item cvs-auto-remove-handled
1248 If this variable is set to any non-@code{nil} value,
1249 @samp{cvs-mode-remove-handled} will be called every time you check in
1250 files, after the check-in is ready. @xref{Removing handled
1253 @item cvs-auto-remove-directories
1254 If this variable is set to any non-@code{nil} value, directories that do
1255 not contain any files to be checked in will not be listed in the
1256 @samp{*cvs*} buffer.@refill
1258 @item cvs-auto-revert
1259 If this variable is set to any non-@samp{nil} value any buffers you have
1260 that visit a file that is committed will be automatically reverted.
1261 This variable defaults to @samp{t}. @xref{Committing changes}.@refill
1263 @item cvs-update-prog-output-skip-regexp
1264 The @samp{-u} flag in the @file{modules} file can be used to run a command
1265 whenever a @samp{cvs update} is performed (see @code{cvs(5)}). This regexp
1266 is used to search for the last line in that output. It is normally set
1267 to @samp{$}. That setting is only correct if the command outputs
1268 nothing. Note that PCL-CVS will get very confused if the command
1269 outputs @emph{anything} to @code{stderr}.
1272 This variable can be set to override @samp{CVSROOT}. It should be a
1273 string. If it is set, then every time a @code{cvs} command is run, it
1274 will be called as @samp{cvs -d @var{cvs-cvsroot}@dots{}}. This can be
1275 useful if your site has several repositories.
1277 @item log-edit-require-final-newline
1278 @c wordy to avoid unhderfull hbox
1279 When you enter a log message by typing into the
1280 @samp{*cvs-commit-message*} buffer, PCL-CVS normally automatically
1281 inserts a trailing newline, unless there already is one. This behavior
1282 can be controlled via @samp{cvs-commit-buffer-require-final-newline}.
1283 If it is @samp{t} (the default behavior), a newline will always be
1284 appended. If it is @samp{nil}, newlines will never be appended. Any
1285 other value causes PCL-CVS to ask the user whenever there is no trailing
1286 newline in the commit message buffer.
1288 @findex cvs-mode-changelog-commit
1289 @item log-edit-changelog-full-paragraphs
1290 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, include full @file{ChangeLog}
1291 paragraphs in the CVS log created by @samp{cvs-mode-changelog-commit}.
1292 This may be set in the local variables section of a @file{ChangeLog}
1293 file, to indicate the policy for that @file{ChangeLog}.
1295 @cindex @file{ChangeLog} paragraphs
1296 A @dfn{@file{ChangeLog} paragraph} is a bunch of log text containing no
1297 blank lines; a paragraph usually describes a set of changes with a
1298 single purpose, but perhaps spanning several functions in several files.
1299 Changes in different paragraphs are unrelated.
1301 You could argue that the CVS log entry for a file should contain the
1302 full @file{ChangeLog} paragraph mentioning the change to the file, even though
1303 it may mention other files, because that gives you the full context you
1304 need to understand the change. This is the behavior you get when this
1305 variable is set to @code{t}, the default.
1307 On the other hand, you could argue that the CVS log entry for a change
1308 should contain only the text for the changes which occurred in that
1309 file, because the CVS log is per-file. This is the behavior you get
1310 when this variable is set to @code{nil}.
1312 @findex cvs-mode-ignore@r{, and @file{.cvsignore} sorting}
1313 @item cvs-sort-ignore-file
1314 If this variable is set to any non-@samp{nil} value, the
1315 @file{.cvsignore} file will always be sorted whenever you use
1316 @samp{cvs-mode-ignore} to add a file to it. This option is on by
1322 * Customizing Faces::
1325 @node Customizing Faces, , Customization, Customization
1326 @section Customizing Faces
1327 @vindex cvs-header (face)
1328 @vindex cvs-filename (face)
1329 @vindex cvs-unknown (face)
1330 @vindex cvs-handled (face)
1331 @vindex cvs-need-action (face)
1332 @vindex cvs-marked (face)
1333 @vindex cvs-msg (face)
1335 PCL-CVS adds a few extra features, including menus, mouse bindings, and
1336 fontification of the @samp{*cvs*} buffer. The faces defined for
1337 fontification are listed below:
1341 used to highlight directory changes.
1344 Used to highlight file names.
1347 Used to highlight the status of files which are @samp{Unknown}.
1350 Used to highlight the status of files which are handled and
1351 need no further action.
1353 @item cvs-need-action
1354 Used to highlight the status of files which still need action.
1357 Used to highlight the marked file indicator (@samp{*}).
1360 Used to highlight CVS messages.
1364 @node Bugs, GNU Free Documentation License, Customization, Top
1365 @chapter Bugs (known and unknown)
1366 @cindex Reporting bugs and ideas
1367 @cindex Bugs, how to report them
1368 @cindex Author, how to reach
1369 @cindex Email to the author
1373 @cindex Problems, list of common
1375 If you find a bug or misfeature, don't hesitate to tell us! Send email
1376 to @email{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} which is gatewayed to the newsgroup
1377 @samp{gnu.emacs.bugs}. Feature requests should also be sent there. We
1378 prefer discussing one thing at a time. If you find several unrelated
1379 bugs, please report them separately. If you are running PCL-CVS under
1380 XEmacs, you should also send a copy of bug reports to
1381 @email{xemacs-beta@@xemacs.org}.
1383 If you have problems using PCL-CVS or other questions, send them to
1384 @email{help-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org}, which is gatewayed to the
1385 @samp{gnu.emacs.help} newsgroup. This is a good place to get help, as
1386 is @email{cvs-info@@gnu.org}, gatewayed to @samp{gnu.cvs.help}.
1388 If you have ideas for improvements, or if you have written some
1389 extensions to this package, we would like to hear from you. We hope that
1390 you find this package useful!
1392 Below is a partial list of currently known problems with PCL-CVS.
1395 @item Unexpected output from CVS
1396 Unexpected output from CVS may confuse PCL-CVS. It will create
1397 warning messages in the @samp{*cvs*} buffer alerting you to any parse errors.
1398 If you get these messages, please send a bug report to the email
1399 addresses listed above. Include the contents of the @samp{*cvs*} buffer, the
1400 output of the CVS process (which should be found in the @samp{ *cvs-tmp*}
1401 buffer), and the versions of Emacs, PCL-CVS and CVS you are using.
1404 @node GNU Free Documentation License, Function and Variable Index, Bugs, Top
1405 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
1406 @include doclicense.texi
1410 @node Function and Variable Index, Concept Index, GNU Free Documentation License, Top
1411 @unnumbered Function and Variable Index
1413 This is an index of all the functions and variables documented in this
1418 @node Concept Index, Key Index, Function and Variable Index, Top
1419 @unnumbered Concept Index
1421 This is an index of concepts discussed in this manual.
1425 @node Key Index, , Concept Index, Top
1426 @unnumbered Key Index
1428 This index includes an entry for each PCL-CVS key sequence documented in