1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
3 @setfilename ../info/pcl-cvs
4 @settitle PCL-CVS --- Emacs Front-End to CVS
9 Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998,
10 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
13 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
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16 Invariant Sections being ``The GNU Manifesto'', ``Distribution'' and
17 ``GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE'', with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU
18 Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the
19 license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation
20 License'' in the Emacs manual.
22 This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
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25 license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
27 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
28 this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
29 Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
35 * PCL-CVS: (pcl-cvs). Emacs front-end to CVS.
38 @c The titlepage section does not appear in the Info file.
41 @c The title is printed in a large font.
42 @center @titlefont{User's Guide}
44 @center @titlefont{to}
46 @center @titlefont{PCL-CVS --- The Emacs Front-End to CVS}
53 @center Per Cederqvist
54 @center Stefan Monnier
57 @c The following two commands start the copyright page
58 @c for the printed manual. This will not appear in the Info file.
60 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
64 @c ================================================================
65 @c The real text starts here
66 @c ================================================================
68 @node Top, About PCL-CVS, (dir), (dir)
72 This manual describes PCL-CVS, the GNU Emacs front-end to CVS. It
73 is nowhere near complete, so you are advised to use @kbd{M-x
74 customize-group RET pcl-cvs @key{RET}} and to look at the documentation strings
75 of the various commands and major modes for further information.
76 @c This manual is updated to release 2.5 of PCL-CVS.
80 * About PCL-CVS:: Credits, history, @dots{}
82 * Getting started:: An introduction with a walk-through example.
83 * Buffer contents:: An explanation of the buffer contents.
84 * Selected files:: To which files are commands applied.
85 * Commands:: All commands, grouped by type.
87 * Log Edit Mode:: Major mode to edit log messages.
88 * Log View Mode:: Major mode to browse log changes.
89 @c * CVS Status Mode:: Major mode to view CVS' status output.
90 * Customization:: How you can tailor PCL-CVS to suit your needs.
91 * Bugs:: Bugs (known and unknown).
93 * Function and Variable Index:: List of functions and variables.
94 * Concept Index:: List of concepts.
95 * Key Index:: List of keystrokes.
98 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
102 * Contributors:: Contributors to PCL-CVS.
106 * Entering PCL-CVS:: Commands to invoke PCL-CVS
107 * Setting flags:: Setting flags for CVS commands
108 * Updating the buffer::
109 * Movement commands:: How to move up and down in the buffer
110 * Marking files:: How to mark files that other commands
111 will later operate on.
112 * Committing changes:: Checking in your modifications to the
114 * Editing files:: Loading files into Emacs.
115 * Getting info about files:: Display the log and status of files.
116 * Adding and removing files:: Adding and removing files
117 * Undoing changes:: Undoing changes
118 * Removing handled entries:: Uninteresting lines can easily be removed.
119 * Ignoring files:: Telling CVS to ignore generated files.
120 * Viewing differences:: Commands to @samp{diff} different versions.
121 * Invoking Ediff:: Running @samp{ediff} from @samp{*cvs*} buffer.
122 * Updating files:: Updating files that Need-update.
123 * Tagging files:: Tagging files.
124 * Miscellaneous commands:: Miscellaneous commands.
128 * Customizing Faces::
133 @node About PCL-CVS, Getting started, Top, Top
134 @chapter About PCL-CVS
135 @cindex About PCL-CVS
137 PCL-CVS is a front-end to CVS versions 1.9 and later.
138 It concisely shows the present status of a checked out module in an
139 Emacs buffer and provides single-key access to the most frequently used CVS
141 For Emacs users accustomed to VC, PCL-CVS can be thought of as a replacement
142 for VC-dired (@pxref{VC Dired Mode, , Dired under VC, emacs, The GNU
143 Emacs Manual}) specifically designed for CVS.
145 PCL-CVS was originally written many years ago by Per Cederqvist who
146 proudly maintained it until January 1996, at which point he released the
147 beta version 2.0b2 and passed on the maintainership to Greg A Woods.
148 Development stayed mostly dormant for a few years during which
149 version 2.0 never seemed to be able to leave the ``beta'' stage while a
150 separate XEmacs version was slowly splitting away. In late 1998,
151 Stefan Monnier picked up development again, adding some major new
152 functionality and taking over the maintenance.
155 * Contributors:: Contributors to PCL-CVS.
158 @node Contributors,, About PCL-CVS, About PCL-CVS
159 @section Contributors to PCL-CVS
163 Contributions to the package are welcome. I have limited time to work
164 on this project, but I will gladly add any code that you contribute to
165 me to this package (@pxref{Bugs}).
167 The following persons have made contributions to PCL-CVS.
171 Brian Berliner wrote CVS, together with some other contributors.
172 Without his work on CVS this package would be useless@dots{}
175 Per Cederqvist wrote most of the otherwise unattributed functions in
176 PCL-CVS as well as all the documentation.
179 @email{inge@@lysator.liu.se, Inge Wallin} wrote the skeleton of
180 @file{pcl-cvs.texi}, and gave useful comments on it. He also wrote
181 the files @file{elib-node.el} and @file{compile-all.el}. The file
182 @file{cookie.el} was inspired by Inge.@refill
185 @email{linus@@lysator.liu.se, Linus Tolke} contributed useful comments
186 on both the functionality and the documentation.@refill
189 @email{jwz@@jwz.com, Jamie Zawinski} contributed
190 @file{pcl-cvs-lucid.el}, which was later renamed to
191 @file{pcl-cvs-xemacs.el}.@refill
194 Leif Lonnblad contributed RCVS support (since superseded by the new
198 @email{jimb@@cyclic.com, Jim Blandy} contributed hooks to automatically
199 guess CVS log entries from @file{ChangeLog} contents, and initial support of
200 the new Cygnus / Cyclic remote CVS, as well as various sundry bug fixes
204 @email{kingdon@@cyclic.com, Jim Kingdon} contributed lots of fixes to
205 the build and installation procedure.
208 @email{woods@@weird.com, Greg A.@: Woods} contributed code to implement
209 the use of per-file diff buffers, and vendor join diffs with emerge and
210 ediff, as well as various and sundry bug fixes and cleanups.
213 @email{greg.klanderman@@alum.mit.edu, Greg Klanderman} implemented
214 toggling of marked files, setting of CVS command flags via prefix
215 arguments, updated the XEmacs support, updated the manual, and fixed
219 @email{monnier@@cs.yale.edu, Stefan Monnier} added a slew of other
220 features and introduced even more new bugs. If there's any bug left,
221 you can be sure it's his.
224 @c wordy to avoid an underfull hbox
225 @email{masata-y@@is.aist-nara.ac.jp, Masatake YAMATO} made a gracious
226 contribution of his cvstree code to display a tree of tags which was later
227 superseded by the new @code{cvs-status-mode}.
230 Apart from these, a lot of people have sent us suggestions, ideas,
231 requests, bug reports and encouragement. Thanks a lot! Without you
232 there would be no new releases of PCL-CVS.
235 @node Getting started, Buffer contents, About PCL-CVS, Top
236 @chapter Getting started
239 @cindex Sample session
241 This document assumes that you know what CVS is, and that you at least
242 know the fundamental concepts of CVS. If that is not the case, you
243 should read the CVS documentation. Type @kbd{info -f cvs} or @kbd{man
246 PCL-CVS is only useful once you have checked out a module. So before
247 you invoke it, you must have a copy of a module somewhere in the file
250 You can invoke PCL-CVS by typing @kbd{M-x cvs-examine @key{RET}}.
251 You can also invoke it via the menu bar, under @samp{Tools}.
252 Or, if you prefer, you can also invoke PCL-CVS by simply visiting the
253 CVS administrative subdirectory of your module, with a prefix argument.
254 For example, to invoke PCL-CVS in a separate frame, type @kbd{C-u C-x 5
255 f ~/my/project/CVS @key{RET}}.
257 The function @code{cvs-examine} will ask for a directory. The command
258 @samp{cvs -n update} will be run in that directory. (It should contain
259 files that have been checked out from a CVS archive.) The output from
260 @code{cvs} will be parsed and presented in a table in a buffer called
261 @samp{*cvs*}. It might look something like this:
264 Repository : /usr/CVSroot
266 Working dir: /users/ceder/FOO/test
277 --------------------- End ---------------------
278 -- last cmd: cvs -f -z6 -n update -d -P --
281 In this example, your repository is in @file{/usr/CVSroot} and CVS has
282 been run in the directory @file{/users/ceder/FOO/test}. The three files
283 (@file{bar}, @file{file.txt} and
284 @file{newer}) that are marked with @samp{Need-Update} have been changed
285 by someone else in the CVS repository. Two files (@file{namechange}
286 and @file{sub/ChangeLog}) have been modified locally, and need to be
289 You can move the cursor up and down in the buffer with @kbd{C-n} and
290 @kbd{C-p} or @kbd{n} and @kbd{p}. If you press @kbd{c} on one of the
291 @samp{Modified} files, that file will be checked in to the CVS
292 repository. @xref{Committing changes}. You can also press @kbd{O} to
293 update any of the files that are marked @samp{Need-Update}. You can
294 also run @kbd{M-x cvs-update @key{RET}} (bound to @kbd{M-u} in the
295 @samp{*cvs*} buffer) to update all the files.@refill
297 You can then press @kbd{=} to easily get a @samp{diff} between your
298 modified file and the base version that you started from, or you can
299 press @kbd{l} to get the output from @samp{cvs log}. Many more such
300 commands are available simply by pressing a key (@pxref{Getting info
303 @node Buffer contents, Selected files, Getting started, Top
304 @chapter Buffer contents
305 @cindex Buffer contents
306 @cindex @code{*cvs*} buffer contents
308 The display contains several columns, some of which are optional.
309 These columns are, from left to right:
314 Optionally, the head revision of the file. This is the latest version
315 found in the repository. It might also contain (instead of the head
316 revision) a sub status which typically gives further information about
317 how we got to the current state, for example @samp{patched},
318 @samp{merged}, @dots{}
321 An asterisk when the file is @dfn{marked} (@pxref{Selected
325 The actual status of the file wrt the repository. See below.
328 Optionally, the base revision of the file. This is the version
329 which the copy in your working directory is based upon.
336 The @samp{file status} field can have the following values:
340 The file is modified in your working directory, and there was no
341 modification to the same file in the repository. This status can have
342 the following substatus:
346 The file was modified in your working directory, and there were
347 modifications in the repository as well, but they were merged
348 successfully, without conflict, in your working directory.@refill
352 A conflict was detected while trying to merge your changes to @var{file}
353 with changes from the repository. @var{file} (the copy in your
354 working directory) is now the output of the @code{rcsmerge} command on
355 the two versions; an unmodified copy of your file is also in your
356 working directory, with the name @file{.#@var{file}.@var{version}},
357 where @var{version} is the RCS revision that your modified file started
358 from. @xref{Viewing differences}, for more details.@refill
360 A conflict can also come from a disagreement on the existence of the file
361 rather than on its content. This case is indicated by the following
366 The file is locally removed but a new revision has been committed to
367 the repository by someone else.
370 The file is locally added and has also been added to the repository
374 The file is locally modified but someone else has removed it from the
379 The file has been added by you, but it still needs to be checked in to
380 the repository.@refill
383 The file has been removed by you, but it still needs to be checked in to
384 the repository. You can resurrect it by typing @kbd{a} (@pxref{Adding
385 and removing files}).@refill
388 A file that was detected in your directory, but that neither appears in
389 the repository, nor is present on the list of files that CVS should
393 The file is up to date with respect to the version in the repository.
394 This status can have a substatus of:
398 You have just added the file to the repository.@refill
401 The file was brought up to date with respect to the repository. This is
402 done for any file that exists in the repository but not in your source,
403 and for files that you haven't changed but are not the most recent
404 versions available in the repository.@refill
407 The file was brought up to date with respect to the remote repository by
408 way of fetching and applying a patch to the file in your source. This
409 is equivalent to @samp{updated} except that CVS decided to use a hopefully
410 more efficient method.@refill
413 You just committed the file.@refill
417 Either a newer version than the one in your source is available in the
418 repository and you have not modified your checked out version, or the
419 file exists in the repository but not in your source. Use
420 @samp{cvs-mode-update} bound to @kbd{O} to update the file.@refill
423 You have modified the checked out version of the file, and a newer
424 version is available in the repository. A merge will take place when
425 you run a @samp{cvs-update}.
428 The file has been unexpectedly removed from your working directory
429 although it has not been @samp{cvs remove}d.
432 @node Selected files, Commands, Buffer contents, Top
433 @chapter Selected files
434 @cindex Selected files
436 @cindex File selection
440 Many of the commands work on the current set of @dfn{selected} files
441 which can be either the set of marked files (if any file is marked and
442 marks are not ignored) or whichever file or directory the cursor is on.
444 If a directory is selected but the command cannot be applied to a
445 directory, then it will be applied to the set of files under this
446 directory which are in the @samp{*cvs*} buffer.
448 @findex cvs-mode-force-command
449 @findex cvs-allow-dir-commit
450 Furthermore, each command only operates on a subset of the selected
451 files, depending on whether or not the command is @dfn{applicable} to
452 each file (based on the file's status). For example,
453 @code{cvs-mode-commit} is not applicable to a file whose status is
454 @samp{Need-Update}. If it should happen that PCL-CVS guesses the
455 applicability wrong, you can override it with the special prefix
456 @code{cvs-mode-force-command} normally bound to @kbd{M-f} (and file a
457 bug report). The applicability rule can be slightly changed with
458 @code{cvs-allow-dir-commit} and @code{cvs-force-dir-tag}.
460 By default, marks are always in effect (you may change this, however, by
461 setting the variable @code{cvs-default-ignore-marks}) except for the
462 commands that @samp{tag} or @samp{diff} a file (which can be changed
463 with the variable @code{cvs-invert-ignore-marks}).
465 In addition, you may use the special prefix @code{cvs-mode-toggle-marks}
466 normally bound to @key{T} to toggle the use of marks for the following
469 This scheme might seem a little complicated, but once one gets used to
470 it, it is quite powerful.
472 For commands to mark and unmark files, see @ref{Marking files}.
474 @node Commands, Log Edit Mode, Selected files, Top
478 This chapter describes all the commands that you can use in PCL-CVS.
481 The nodes in this menu contains explanations about all the commands that
482 you can use in PCL-CVS. They are grouped together by type.
486 * Entering PCL-CVS:: Commands to invoke PCL-CVS
487 * Setting flags:: Setting flags for CVS commands
488 * Updating the buffer::
489 * Movement commands:: How to move up and down in the buffer
490 * Marking files:: How to mark files that other commands
491 will later operate on.
492 * Committing changes:: Checking in your modifications to the
494 * Editing files:: Loading files into Emacs.
495 * Getting info about files:: Display the log and status of files.
496 * Adding and removing files:: Adding and removing files
497 * Undoing changes:: Undoing changes
498 * Removing handled entries:: Uninteresting lines can easily be removed.
499 * Ignoring files:: Telling CVS to ignore generated files.
500 * Viewing differences:: Commands to @samp{diff} different versions.
501 * Invoking Ediff:: Running @samp{ediff} from @samp{*cvs*} buffer.
502 * Updating files:: Updating files that Need-update.
503 * Tagging files:: Tagging files.
504 * Miscellaneous commands:: Miscellaneous commands.
508 @node Entering PCL-CVS, Setting flags, Commands, Commands
509 @section Entering PCL-CVS
515 @cindex Creating the *cvs* buffer
517 Most commands in PCL-CVS require that you have a @samp{*cvs*}
518 buffer. The commands that you use to get one are listed below.
519 For each, a @samp{cvs} process will be run, the output will be parsed by
520 PCL-CVS, and the result will be printed in the @samp{*cvs*} buffer (see
521 @ref{Buffer contents}, for a description of the buffer's contents).
525 Run a @samp{cvs update} command. You will be asked for the directory
526 in which the @samp{cvs update} will be run.
528 @item M-x cvs-examine
529 Run a @samp{cvs -n update} command. This is identical to the previous
530 command, except that it will only check what needs to be done but will
531 not change anything. You will be asked for the directory in
532 which the @samp{cvs -n update} will be run.
535 Run a @samp{cvs status} command. You will be asked for the directory
536 in which the @samp{cvs status} will be run.
538 @item M-x cvs-checkout
539 Run a @samp{cvs checkout} command. You will be asked for the directory
540 in which the @samp{cvs update} will be run and the module to be checked
543 @item M-x cvs-quickdir
544 Populate the @samp{*cvs*} buffer by just looking at the @file{CVS/Entries}
545 files. This is very much like @code{cvs-examine} except that it does
546 not access the CVS repository, which is a major advantage when the
547 repository is far away. But of course, it will not be able to detect
548 when a file needs to be updated or merged.
551 @findex cvs-dired-action
552 @findex cvs-dired-use-hook
554 those commands are also reachable from the menu bar
555 under @samp{Tools->PCL-CVS}. Finally, an alternative way is to visit
556 the CVS administrative subdirectory in your work area with a simple
557 prefix argument. For example @kbd{C-u C-x C-f ~/my/work/CVS @key{RET}}. This
558 by default runs @code{cvs-quickdir} but the specific behavior can be
559 changed with @code{cvs-dired-action} and @code{cvs-dired-use-hook}.
561 By default, the commands above will descend recursively into
562 subdirectories. You can avoid that behavior by including @samp{-l} in
563 the flags for the command. These flags can be set by giving a prefix
564 argument to the command (e.g., by typing
565 @kbd{C-u M-x cvs-update @key{RET} -l @key{RET}}).
568 @node Setting flags, Updating the buffer, Entering PCL-CVS, Commands
569 @section Setting flags for CVS commands
570 @cindex Optional switches to CVS
571 @cindex Command-line options to CVS
573 This section describes the convention used by nearly all PCL-CVS
574 commands for setting optional flags sent to CVS. A single @kbd{C-u}
575 prefix argument is used to cause the command to prompt for flags to be
576 used for the current invocation of the command only. Two @kbd{C-u} prefix
577 arguments are used to prompt for flags which will be set permanently, for the
578 current invocation and all that follow, until the flags are changed, or
579 unless temporary flags are set which override them.
581 Perhaps an example or two is in order. Say you are about to add a
582 binary file to the repository, and want to specify the flags @samp{-kb}
583 to @samp{cvs add}. You can type @kbd{C-u a -kb @key{RET}},
584 and the file will be added. Subsequent @samp{cvs add}
585 commands will use the previously prevailing flags.
587 As a second example, say you are about to perform a diff and want to see
588 the result in unified diff format, i.e. you'd like to pass the flag
589 @samp{-u} to both @samp{cvs diff} and @samp{diff}. You'd also like all
590 subsequent diffs to use this flag. You can type @kbd{C-u C-u = -u @key{RET}}
591 and the diff will be performed, and the default flags will be set to
592 @code{("-u")}. You can of course override this flag for a single diff
593 by using a single @kbd{C-u} prefix argument.
595 @cindex Special prefix
596 In addition to this, some commands can take @dfn{special prefix} arguments.
597 These work as follows: When called with a @kbd{C-u} prefix, the user is
598 prompted for a new value of the special prefix and the special prefix is
599 activated for the next command. When called without the @kbd{C-u}
600 prefix, the special prefix is re-activated (with the same value as last
601 time) for the next command. Calling the prefix command again when it's
602 already activated deactivates it. Calling it with the @kbd{C-u C-u}
603 prefix activates it for all subsequent commands until you deactivate it
604 explicitly. The special prefixes are:
608 Toggles whether or not marks will be active in the next command.@refill
611 Provide the next command with a branch (can be any version
612 specifier) to work on.@refill
615 Secondary branch argument. Only meaningful if @kbd{b} is also used.
616 It can be used to provide a second branch argument to
617 @code{cvs-mode-diff} or to @code{cvs-mode-update}.
620 Forces the next command to apply to every selected file rather than only
621 to the ones PCL-CVS thinks are relevant.
624 @node Updating the buffer, Movement commands, Setting flags, Commands
625 @section Updating the @samp{*cvs*} buffer
629 @findex cvs-mode-update
630 @findex cvs-mode-examine
631 @findex cvs-mode-status
633 The following commands can be used from within the @samp{*cvs*} buffer
634 to update the display:
638 Runs the command @samp{cvs-update}.@refill
641 Runs the command @samp{cvs-examine}.@refill
644 Runs the command @samp{cvs-status}.@refill
647 In addition to the above commands which operate on the whole module,
648 you can run the equivalent CVS command on just a subset of the
649 files/directories with these keys:
653 Runs @code{cvs-mode-update} on the selected files. When run on the
654 top-level directory, this is equivalent to @kbd{M-u}.@refill
657 Runs @code{cvs-mode-examine} on the selected files. When run on the
658 top-level directory, this is equivalent to @kbd{M-e}.@refill
660 @findex cvs-status-mode
662 Runs @code{cvs-mode-status} on the selected files. When run on the
663 top-level directory, this is equivalent to @kbd{M-s}, except that
664 CVS output will be shown in a @samp{*cvs-info*} buffer that will be
665 put in @samp{cvs-status-mode}.@refill
669 @node Movement commands, Marking files, Updating the buffer, Commands
670 @section Movement Commands
671 @cindex Movement Commands
672 @findex cvs-mode-next-line
673 @findex cvs-mode-previous-line
674 @kindex SPC@r{--Move down one file}
675 @kindex n@r{--Move down one file}
676 @kindex p@r{--Move up one file}
678 You can use most normal Emacs commands to move forward and backward in
679 the buffer. Some keys are rebound to functions that take advantage of
680 the fact that the buffer is a PCL-CVS buffer:
686 These keys move the cursor one file forward, towards the end of the
687 buffer (@code{cvs-mode-next-line}).@refill
690 This key moves one file backward, towards the beginning of the buffer
691 (@code{cvs-mode-previous-line}).
695 @node Marking files, Committing changes, Movement commands, Commands
696 @section Marking files
697 @cindex Selecting files (commands to mark files)
698 @cindex Marking files
699 @kindex m@r{--marking a file}
700 @kindex M@r{--marking all files}
701 @kindex u@r{--unmark a file}
702 @kindex ESC DEL@r{--unmark all files}
703 @kindex DEL@r{--unmark previous file}
704 @kindex %@r{--mark files matching regexp}
705 @kindex S@r{--mark files in a particular state}
706 @kindex T@r{--toggle marks}
707 @findex cvs-mode-mark
708 @findex cvs-mode-unmark
709 @findex cvs-mode-mark-all-files
710 @findex cvs-mode-unmark-all-files
711 @findex cvs-mode-unmark-up
712 @findex cvs-mode-mark-matching-files
713 @findex cvs-mode-mark-on-state
714 @findex cvs-mode-toggle-marks
716 PCL-CVS works on a set of @dfn{selected files} (@pxref{Selected files}).
717 You can mark and unmark files with these commands:
721 This marks the file that the cursor is positioned on. If the cursor is
722 positioned on a directory all files in that directory are marked.
723 (@code{cvs-mode-mark}).@refill
726 Unmark the file that the cursor is positioned on. If the cursor is on a
727 directory, all files in that directory are unmarked.
728 (@code{cvs-mode-unmark}).@refill
731 Mark @emph{all} files in the buffer (@code{cvs-mode-mark-all-files}).
734 Unmark @emph{all} files (@code{cvs-mode-unmark-all-files}).
737 Unmark the file on the previous line, and move point to that line
738 (@code{cvs-mode-unmark-up}).
741 Mark all files matching a regular expression
742 (@code{cvs-mode-mark-matching-files}).
745 Mark all files in a particular state, such as ``Modified'' or
746 ``Removed''. (@code{cvs-mode-mark-on-state}).
749 Toggle use of marks for the next command (@code{cvs-mode-toggle-marks}).
753 @node Committing changes, Editing files, Marking files, Commands
754 @section Committing changes
755 @cindex Committing changes
756 @findex cvs-mode-commit
757 @findex cvs-mode-commit-setup
758 @kindex c@r{--commit files}
759 @kindex C@r{--commit files with @file{ChangeLog} message}
760 @vindex cvs-auto-revert@r{ (variable)}
761 @cindex Commit buffer
763 @cindex Erasing commit message
764 @cindex Reverting buffers after commit
766 Committing changes basically works as follows:
770 After having selected the files you want to commit, you type either
771 @kbd{c} or @kbd{C} which brings up a special buffer
772 @samp{*cvs-commit*}.@refill
775 You type in the log message describing the changes you're about to
776 commit (@pxref{Log Edit Mode}).
779 When you're happy with it, you type @kbd{C-c C-c} to do the actual
783 There's no hidden state, so you can abort the process or pick it up
786 @vindex log-edit-confirm@r{ (variable)}
787 The set of files actually committed is really decided only during the
788 very last step, which is a mixed blessing. It allows you to go back and
789 change your mind about which files to commit, but it also means that you
790 might inadvertently change the set of selected files. To reduce the
791 risk of error, @kbd{C-c C-c} will ask for confirmation if the set of
792 selected files has changed between the first step and the last. You can
793 change this last detail with @code{log-edit-confirm}.
795 As for the difference between @kbd{c} (i.e. @code{cvs-mode-commit}) and
796 @kbd{C} (i.e. @code{cvs-mode-commit-setup}) is that the first gets you
797 straight to @samp{*cvs-commit*} without erasing it or changing anything
798 to its content, while the second first erases @samp{*cvs-commit*}
799 and tries to initialize it with a sane default (it does that by either
800 using a template provided by the CVS administrator or by extracting a
801 relevant log message from a @file{ChangeLog} file).
803 If you are editing the files in your Emacs, an automatic
804 @samp{revert-buffer} will be performed. (If the file contains
805 @samp{$@asis{Id}$} keywords, @samp{cvs commit} will write a new file with
806 the new values substituted. The auto-revert makes sure that you get
807 them into your buffer). The revert will not occur if you have modified
808 your buffer, or if @samp{cvs-auto-revert} is set to
812 @node Editing files, Getting info about files, Committing changes, Commands
813 @section Editing files
814 @cindex Editing files
815 @cindex Finding files
816 @cindex Loading files
818 @cindex Invoking dired
819 @findex cvs-mode-find-file
820 @findex cvs-mode-find-file-other-window
821 @findex cvs-mode-add-change-log-entry-other-window
822 @kindex f@r{--find file or directory}
823 @kindex o@r{--find file in other window}
824 @kindex A@r{--add @file{ChangeLog} entry}
826 There are currently three commands that can be used to find a file (that
827 is, load it into a buffer and start editing it there). These commands
828 work on the line that the cursor is situated at. They always ignore any marked
833 Find the file that the cursor points to (@code{cvs-mode-find-file}). If
834 the cursor points to a directory, run @code{dired} on that directory;
835 @inforef{Dired, , emacs}.
838 Like @kbd{f}, but use another window
839 (@code{cvs-mode-find-file-other-window}).@refill
842 Invoke @samp{add-change-log-entry-other-window} to edit a
843 @file{ChangeLog} file. The @file{ChangeLog} file will be found in the
844 directory of the file the cursor points to, or in a parent of that
845 directory. (@code{cvs-mode-add-change-log-entry-other-window}).@refill
849 @node Getting info about files, Adding and removing files, Editing files, Commands
850 @section Getting info about files
851 @cindex Status (cvs command)
852 @cindex Log (RCS/cvs command)
853 @cindex Getting status
854 @kindex l@r{--run @samp{cvs log}}
855 @kindex s@r{--run @samp{cvs status}}
857 @findex cvs-mode-status
861 Call the command @code{cvs-mode-log} which runs @samp{cvs log} on all
862 selected files, and show the result in a temporary buffer
863 @samp{*cvs-info*} (@pxref{Log View Mode}).
866 Call the command @code{cvs-mode-status} which runs @samp{cvs status} on
867 all selected files, and show the result in a temporary buffer
869 @c Fixme: reinstate when node is written:
870 @c (@pxref{CVS Status Mode}).
874 @node Adding and removing files, Undoing changes, Getting info about files, Commands
875 @section Adding and removing files
877 @cindex Removing files
878 @cindex Resurrecting files
879 @cindex Deleting files
880 @cindex Putting files under CVS control
881 @kindex a@r{--add a file}
882 @kindex r@r{--remove a file}
884 @findex cvs-mode-remove-file
886 The following commands are available to make it easy to add files to
887 and remove them from the CVS repository.
891 Add all selected files. This command can be used on @samp{Unknown}
892 files (@pxref{Buffer contents}). The status of the file will change to
893 @samp{Added}, and you will have to use @kbd{c} (@samp{cvs-mode-commit}
894 @pxref{Committing changes}), to really add the file to the
897 This command can also be used on @samp{Removed} files (before you commit
898 them) to resurrect them.
900 The command that is run is @code{cvs-mode-add}.
903 This command removes the selected files (after prompting for
904 confirmation). The files are deleted from your directory and
905 (unless the status was @samp{Unknown}; @pxref{Buffer contents}) they will
906 also be @samp{cvs remove}d. If the files' status was @samp{Unknown}
907 they will disappear from the buffer. Otherwise their status will change to
908 @samp{Removed}, and you must use @kbd{c} (@samp{cvs-mode-commit},
909 @pxref{Committing changes}) to commit the removal.@refill
911 The command that is run is @code{cvs-mode-remove-file}.
915 @node Undoing changes, Removing handled entries, Adding and removing files, Commands
916 @section Undoing changes
918 @cindex Flush changes
919 @kindex U@r{--undo changes}
920 @findex cvs-mode-undo-local-changes
924 If you have modified a file, and for some reason decide that you don't
925 want to keep the changes, you can undo them with this command. It works
926 by removing your working copy of the file and then getting the latest
927 version from the repository (@code{cvs-mode-undo-local-changes}.
931 @node Removing handled entries, Ignoring files, Undoing changes, Commands
932 @section Removing handled entries
933 @cindex Expunging uninteresting entries
934 @cindex Uninteresting entries, getting rid of them
935 @cindex Getting rid of uninteresting lines
936 @cindex Removing uninteresting (processed) lines
937 @cindex Handled lines, removing them
938 @kindex x@r{--remove processed entries}
939 @kindex C-k@r{--remove selected entries}
940 @findex cvs-mode-remove-handled
941 @findex cvs-mode-acknowledge
942 @findex cvs-mode-ignore
946 This command allows you to remove all entries that you have processed.
947 More specifically, the lines for @samp{Up-to-date} files (@pxref{Buffer
948 contents}) are removed from the buffer. If a directory becomes empty
949 the heading for that directory is also removed. This makes it easier to
950 get an overview of what needs to be done.
952 @vindex cvs-mode-remove-handled@r{ (variable)}
953 @kbd{x} invokes @code{cvs-mode-remove-handled}. If
954 @samp{cvs-auto-remove-handled} is set to non-@code{nil}, this will
955 automatically be performed after every commit.@refill
958 This command can be used for lines that @samp{cvs-mode-remove-handled} would
959 not delete, but that you want to delete (@code{cvs-mode-acknowledge}).
963 @node Ignoring files, Viewing differences, Removing handled entries, Commands
964 @section Ignoring files
965 @cindex Ignoring files
966 @kindex i@r{--ignoring files}
967 @findex cvs-mode-ignore
971 Arrange so that CVS will ignore the selected files. The file names are
972 added to the @file{.cvsignore} file in the corresponding directory. If
973 the @file{.cvsignore} file doesn't exist, it will be created.
975 The @file{.cvsignore} file should normally be added to the repository,
976 but you could ignore it as well, if you like it better that way.
978 This runs @code{cvs-mode-ignore}.
981 @node Viewing differences, Invoking Ediff, Ignoring files, Commands
982 @section Viewing differences
984 @cindex Invoking @code{diff}
985 @cindex Conflicts, how to resolve them
986 @cindex Viewing differences
987 @kindex d=@r{--run @samp{cvs diff}}
988 @kindex =@r{--run @samp{cvs diff}}
989 @kindex db@r{--diff against base version}
990 @kindex dh@r{--diff against head of repository}
991 @kindex dr@r{--diff between base and head of repository}
992 @kindex dv@r{--diff against vendor branch}
993 @kindex dy@r{--diff against yesterday's head}
994 @findex cvs-mode-diff
995 @findex cvs-mode-diff-backup
996 @findex cvs-mode-diff-head
997 @findex cvs-mode-diff-repository
998 @findex cvs-mode-diff-vendor
999 @findex cvs-mode-diff-yesterday
1000 @vindex cvs-invert-ignore-marks@r{ (variable)}
1005 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the selected files and the version
1006 that they are based on. (@code{cvs-mode-diff}).@refill
1009 If CVS finds a conflict while merging two versions of a file (during a
1010 @samp{cvs update}, @pxref{Updating the buffer}) it will save the
1011 original file in a file called @file{.#@var{file}.@var{version}} where
1012 @var{file} is the name of the file, and @var{version} is the revision
1013 number that @var{file} was based on.@refill
1015 With the @kbd{d b} command you can run a @samp{diff} on the files
1016 @file{.#@var{file}.@var{version}} and @file{@var{file}}.@refill
1019 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the selected files and the head
1020 revision in the repository (the most recent version on the current
1021 branch) (@code{cvs-mode-diff-head}).@refill
1024 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the base revision of the selected
1025 files and the head revision in the repository. This displays the
1026 changes anyone has committed to the repository since you last executed
1027 "checkout", "update" or "commit".
1028 (@code{cvs-mode-diff-repository}).@refill
1031 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the selected files and the head
1032 revision of the vendor branch in the repository.
1033 (@code{cvs-mode-diff-vendor}).@refill
1036 Display a @samp{cvs diff} between the selected files and yesterday's
1037 head revision in the repository.
1038 (@code{cvs-mode-diff-yesterday}).@refill
1041 By default, @samp{diff} commands ignore the marks. This can be changed
1042 with @code{cvs-invert-ignore-marks}.
1044 @node Invoking Ediff, Updating files, Viewing differences, Commands
1045 @section Running ediff
1047 @cindex Invoking ediff
1048 @cindex Viewing differences
1049 @cindex Conflicts, how to resolve them
1050 @cindex Resolving conflicts
1051 @kindex e@r{--invoke @samp{ediff}}
1052 @findex cvs-mode-idiff
1053 @findex cvs-mode-imerge
1056 @vindex cvs-idiff-imerge-handlers@r{ (variable)}
1058 This uses @code{ediff} (or @code{emerge}, depending on
1059 @samp{cvs-idiff-imerge-handlers}) to allow you to view diffs.
1060 If a prefix argument is given, PCL-CVS will prompt for a revision against
1061 which the diff should be made, else the default will be to use the BASE
1064 @cindex Merging with @code{ediff} and @code{emerge}
1066 This command use @code{ediff} (or @code{emerge}, see above) to allow you
1067 to do an interactive 3-way merge.
1069 @strong{Please note:} when the file status is @samp{Conflict},
1070 CVS has already performed a merge. The resulting file is not used in
1071 any way if you use this command. If you use the @kbd{q} command inside
1072 @samp{ediff} (to successfully terminate a merge) the file that CVS
1073 created will be overwritten.@refill
1076 @node Updating files, Tagging files, Invoking Ediff, Commands
1077 @section Updating files
1078 @findex cvs-mode-update
1079 @cindex Updating files
1080 @kindex O@r{--update files}
1084 Update all selected files with status @samp{Need-update} by running
1085 @samp{cvs update} on them. (@code{cvs-mode-update}).
1089 @node Tagging files, Miscellaneous commands, Updating files, Commands
1090 @section Tagging files
1091 @findex cvs-mode-tag
1092 @findex cvs-mode-untag
1094 @cindex Tagging files
1095 @kindex M-t@r{--repository tag files}
1096 @kindex t@r{--tag files}
1097 @vindex cvs-invert-ignore-marks@r{ (variable)}
1098 @vindex cvs-force-dir-tag@r{ (variable)}
1102 Tag all selected files by running @samp{cvs tag} on
1103 them (@code{cvs-mode-tag}). It's usually preferable to tag a directory
1104 at a time. Rather than selecting all files (which too often doesn't
1105 select all files but only the few that are displayed), clear the
1106 selection with @kbd{M-DEL} (@code{cvs-mode-unmark-all-files}), position
1107 the cursor on the directory you want to tag and hit @kbd{t}.
1110 By default, @samp{tag} commands ignore the marks. This can be changed
1111 with @code{cvs-invert-ignore-marks}. Also, by default @samp{tag} can
1112 only be applied to directories, see @code{cvs-force-dir-tag} if you want
1113 to change this behavior.
1116 @node Miscellaneous commands, , Tagging files, Commands
1117 @section Miscellaneous commands
1118 @findex cvs-mode-byte-compile-files
1119 @cindex Recompiling elisp files
1120 @cindex Byte compilation
1121 @findex cvs-mode-delete-lock
1122 @cindex Getting rid of lock files
1124 @kindex q@r{--quit PCL-CVS}
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 Quit PCL-CVS, killing the @samp{*cvs*} buffer (@code{cvs-mode-quit}).
1157 @node Log Edit Mode, Log View Mode, Commands, Top
1158 @chapter Editing a Log Message
1160 @cindex Log Edit mode
1161 @cindex mode, Log Edit
1162 Buffers for entering/editing log messages for changes which are about
1163 to be committed are put into Log Edit mode.
1165 Sometimes the log buffer contains default text when you enter it,
1166 typically the last log message entered. If it does, mark and point
1167 are set around the entire contents of the buffer so that it is easy to
1168 kill the contents of the buffer with @kbd{C-w}.
1170 @findex log-edit-insert-changelog
1171 If you work by writing entries in the @file{ChangeLog}
1172 (@pxref{(emacs)Change Log}) and then commit the change under revision
1173 control, you can generate the Log Edit text from the ChangeLog using
1174 @kbd{C-c C-a} (@kbd{log-edit-insert-changelog}). This looks for
1175 entries for the file(s) concerned in the top entry in the ChangeLog
1176 and uses those paragraphs as the log text. This text is only inserted
1177 if the top entry was made under your user name on the current date.
1178 @xref{(emacs)Change Logs and VC}, for the opposite way of
1179 working---generating ChangeLog entries from the revision control log.
1181 In the Log Edit buffer, @kbd{C-c C-f} (@kbd{M-x log-edit-show-files})
1182 shows the list of files to be committed in case you need to check
1185 When you have finished editing the log message, type @kbd{C-c C-c} to
1186 exit the buffer and commit the change.
1188 @c Fixme: customization variables
1190 @node Log View Mode, Customization, Log Edit Mode, Top
1191 @chapter Browsing a Log of Changes
1193 @cindex Log View mode
1194 @cindex mode, Log View
1195 @cindex output, logs
1197 @findex cvs-mode-log
1198 @findex vc-print-log
1199 Log View mode provides a few useful commands for navigating revision
1200 control log output. It is used for the output buffers of both
1201 @code{cvs-mode-log} and @code{vc-print-log}.
1203 In this mode, @kbd{n} goes to the next message and @kbd{p} goes to the
1204 previous message and @kbd{N} and @kbd{P} go to the next and previous
1205 files, respectively, in multi-file output. With a numeric prefix
1206 argument, these commands move that many messages of files.
1208 @c @node CVS Status Mode
1209 @c @chapter Viewing CVS' Status output
1211 @node Customization, Bugs, Log View Mode, Top
1212 @chapter Customization
1213 @vindex log-edit-changelog-full-paragraphs@r{ (variable)}
1214 @vindex cvs-auto-remove-handled@r{ (variable)}
1215 @vindex cvs-auto-remove-directories@r{ (variable)}
1216 @vindex cvs-update-prog-output-skip-regexp@r{ (variable)}
1217 @vindex cvs-cvsroot@r{ (variable)}
1218 @vindex cvs-auto-revert@r{ (variable)}
1219 @vindex log-edit-require-final-newline@r{ (variable)}
1220 @vindex cvs-sort-ignore-file@r{ (variable)}
1221 @cindex Customization
1222 @cindex Variables, list of all
1223 @cindex Erasing input buffer
1224 @cindex Context diff, how to get
1225 @cindex Unidiff, how to get
1226 @cindex Automatically remove handled files
1227 @cindex @samp{-u} option in modules file
1228 @cindex Modules file (@samp{-u} option)
1229 @cindex Update program (@samp{-u} option in modules file)
1230 @cindex Reverting buffers after commit
1231 @cindex Require final newline
1232 @cindex Automatically inserting newline
1233 @cindex Commit message, inserting newline
1234 @cindex Sorting @file{.cvsignore} file
1235 @cindex @file{.cvsignore} file, sorting
1236 @cindex Automatically sorting @file{.cvsignore}
1237 @cindex @samp{CVSROOT}, overriding
1239 If you have an idea about any customization that would be handy but
1240 isn't present in this list, please tell me!
1241 For info on how to reach me, see @ref{Bugs}.@refill
1244 @item cvs-auto-remove-handled
1245 If this variable is set to any non-@code{nil} value,
1246 @samp{cvs-mode-remove-handled} will be called every time you check in
1247 files, after the check-in is ready. @xref{Removing handled
1250 @item cvs-auto-remove-directories
1251 If this variable is set to any non-@code{nil} value, directories that do
1252 not contain any files to be checked in will not be listed in the
1253 @samp{*cvs*} buffer.@refill
1255 @item cvs-auto-revert
1256 If this variable is set to any non-@samp{nil} value any buffers you have
1257 that visit a file that is committed will be automatically reverted.
1258 This variable defaults to @samp{t}. @xref{Committing changes}.@refill
1260 @item cvs-update-prog-output-skip-regexp
1261 The @samp{-u} flag in the @file{modules} file can be used to run a command
1262 whenever a @samp{cvs update} is performed (see @code{cvs(5)}). This regexp
1263 is used to search for the last line in that output. It is normally set
1264 to @samp{$}. That setting is only correct if the command outputs
1265 nothing. Note that PCL-CVS will get very confused if the command
1266 outputs @emph{anything} to @code{stderr}.
1269 This variable can be set to override @samp{CVSROOT}. It should be a
1270 string. If it is set, then every time a @code{cvs} command is run, it
1271 will be called as @samp{cvs -d @var{cvs-cvsroot}@dots{}}. This can be
1272 useful if your site has several repositories.
1274 @item log-edit-require-final-newline
1275 @c wordy to avoid unhderfull hbox
1276 When you enter a log message by typing into the
1277 @samp{*cvs-commit-message*} buffer, PCL-CVS normally automatically
1278 inserts a trailing newline, unless there already is one. This behavior
1279 can be controlled via @samp{cvs-commit-buffer-require-final-newline}.
1280 If it is @samp{t} (the default behavior), a newline will always be
1281 appended. If it is @samp{nil}, newlines will never be appended. Any
1282 other value causes PCL-CVS to ask the user whenever there is no trailing
1283 newline in the commit message buffer.
1285 @findex cvs-mode-changelog-commit
1286 @item log-edit-changelog-full-paragraphs
1287 If this variable is non-@code{nil}, include full @file{ChangeLog}
1288 paragraphs in the CVS log created by @samp{cvs-mode-changelog-commit}.
1289 This may be set in the local variables section of a @file{ChangeLog}
1290 file, to indicate the policy for that @file{ChangeLog}.
1292 @cindex @file{ChangeLog} paragraphs
1293 A @dfn{@file{ChangeLog} paragraph} is a bunch of log text containing no
1294 blank lines; a paragraph usually describes a set of changes with a
1295 single purpose, but perhaps spanning several functions in several files.
1296 Changes in different paragraphs are unrelated.
1298 You could argue that the CVS log entry for a file should contain the
1299 full @file{ChangeLog} paragraph mentioning the change to the file, even though
1300 it may mention other files, because that gives you the full context you
1301 need to understand the change. This is the behavior you get when this
1302 variable is set to @code{t}, the default.
1304 On the other hand, you could argue that the CVS log entry for a change
1305 should contain only the text for the changes which occurred in that
1306 file, because the CVS log is per-file. This is the behavior you get
1307 when this variable is set to @code{nil}.
1309 @findex cvs-mode-ignore@r{, and @file{.cvsignore} sorting}
1310 @item cvs-sort-ignore-file
1311 If this variable is set to any non-@samp{nil} value, the
1312 @file{.cvsignore} file will always be sorted whenever you use
1313 @samp{cvs-mode-ignore} to add a file to it. This option is on by
1319 * Customizing Faces::
1322 @node Customizing Faces, , Customization, Customization
1323 @section Customizing Faces
1324 @vindex cvs-header-face (face)
1325 @vindex cvs-filename-face (face)
1326 @vindex cvs-unknown-face (face)
1327 @vindex cvs-handled-face (face)
1328 @vindex cvs-need-action-face (face)
1329 @vindex cvs-marked-face (face)
1331 PCL-CVS adds a few extra features, including menus, mouse bindings, and
1332 fontification the @samp{*cvs*} buffer. The faces defined for
1333 fontification are listed below:
1336 @item cvs-header-face
1337 used to highlight directory changes.
1339 @item cvs-filename-face
1340 used to highlight file names.
1342 @item cvs-unknown-face
1343 used to highlight the status of files which are @samp{Unknown}.
1345 @item cvs-handled-face
1346 used to highlight the status of files which are handled and
1347 need no further action.
1349 @item cvs-need-action-face
1350 used to highlight the status of files which still need action.
1352 @item cvs-marked-face
1353 used to highlight the marked file indicator (@samp{*}).
1357 @node Bugs, Function and Variable Index, Customization, Top
1358 @chapter Bugs (known and unknown)
1359 @cindex Reporting bugs and ideas
1360 @cindex Bugs, how to report them
1361 @cindex Author, how to reach
1362 @cindex Email to the author
1366 @cindex Problems, list of common
1368 If you find a bug or misfeature, don't hesitate to tell us! Send email
1369 to @email{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} which is gatewayed to the newsgroup
1370 @samp{gnu.emacs.bugs}. Feature requests should also be sent there. We
1371 prefer discussing one thing at a time. If you find several unrelated
1372 bugs, please report them separately. If you are running PCL-CVS under
1373 XEmacs, you should also send a copy of bug reports to
1374 @email{xemacs-beta@@xemacs.org}.
1376 If you have problems using PCL-CVS or other questions, send them to
1377 @email{help-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org}, which is gatewayed to the
1378 @samp{gnu.emacs.help} newsgroup. This is a good place to get help, as
1379 is @email{cvs-info@@gnu.org}, gatewayed to @samp{gnu.cvs.help}.
1381 If you have ideas for improvements, or if you have written some
1382 extensions to this package, we would like to hear from you. We hope that
1383 you find this package useful!
1385 Below is a partial list of currently known problems with PCL-CVS.
1388 @item Unexpected output from CVS
1389 Unexpected output from CVS may confuse PCL-CVS. It will create
1390 warning messages in the @samp{*cvs*} buffer alerting you to any parse errors.
1391 If you get these messages, please send a bug report to the email
1392 addresses listed above. Include the contents of the @samp{*cvs*} buffer, the
1393 output of the CVS process (which should be found in the @samp{ *cvs-tmp*}
1394 buffer), and the versions of Emacs, PCL-CVS and CVS you are using.
1397 @node Function and Variable Index, Concept Index, Bugs, Top
1398 @unnumbered Function and Variable Index
1400 This is an index of all the functions and variables documented in this
1405 @node Concept Index, Key Index, Function and Variable Index, Top
1406 @unnumbered Concept Index
1408 This is an index of concepts discussed in this manual.
1412 @node Key Index, , Concept Index, Top
1413 @unnumbered Key Index
1415 This index includes an entry for each PCL-CVS key sequence documented in
1420 @setchapternewpage odd
1426 arch-tag: 5c7178ce-56fa-40b0-abd7-f4a09758b235