WinCvs

WinCVS WinCvs is a window based version control system. Use WinCvs when  You want to save every version of your file you have ever created. CVS stores all the version of the file in a single file in a clever way that only stores the differences between versions.  You are a part of a group of people working on the same project, and you want to prevent overwrite each others' change. CVS solves this by insulating the different developers from each other.  You want to record the history of your file, and you want to easily retrieve the old versions to see exactly the changes made to the file.

Installation Install the following products; WinCvs CVSNT - required by WinCVS for basic CVS functionality. It may be included in the WinCVS installer. Python - used by WinCvs for scripting support. Win32 extensions for Python - maybe required by python for some functionalities. WinMerge - Not required but recommended since it is a good tool for Diff. Note: All of the above components are open source and can be installed using their simple instructions.

Server Configuration Open control panel and click on ‘cvs for NT’. You will see the following window. Click in this tab Click Add to start Conf. Using server setting dialog window, specify the location and name of repository Make sure the CVSNT Service and the CVSNT Lock Service are running!

Defining Browse Location Click here to open ‘Browse for Folder’ window Select the folder you want to work on. As an example we will use the ExamSummary folder Your folder should appear here Launch WinCvs and follow the instruction for proper configuration

Importing a Module Getting a project under version control is called Importing. The following pictorial slide will demonstrate how to import a module to the CVS server.

Importing Module Right click on the folder and select ‘import module’ If there is any file you do not want, click Edit and select ignore. Then click OK to continue importing After verifying the settings, click here for CVSROOT configuration Here you need to specify the server protocol. This path is the path used as repository

Importing Module If successful, you should see the files with check marks Also you should see message similar to this

Checking out a module To obtain a module from the CVS server for the first time is known as a checkout. Checking out from the repository gives you a local copy of the module. To perform checkout, follow the following pictorial slides.

Checking out a module To checkout a module, right click and select ‘checkout module…’ Make sure the module name is correct Select the local folder of your choice Click OK to perform Check out

Checking out a module Make sure the module is checked out and no error

Editing The following slides shows you how to edit a file and later check the difference and commit the change. In addition, you can lock the file so that no other developer can commit a change until you unlock it or check in the file

Editing using WinCvs Double click on the file you want to edit. In this case ‘Stat.cs’ Just click ok the default to open in the default editor

Editing Lets update this program to calculate the average of the five test scores.

Editing We add variable to hold the sum and average We calculate the sum and average here We display the result in the command Close the editor and click ok to save the changes

Viewing the Difference Click ‘Query’ and select ‘Diff’ to view the difference Click ‘OK’ to display the ‘diff’

Viewing the Difference Using WinMerge, you can see changes you made

Committing the Changes This sign indicates that the file now committable. Click here to commit the changes Good to have a message that describes the change Click ‘OK’ to commit

Committing a change No longer committable Version number assigned to both the new and old one.

Locking Files Two developers can modify the same files at the same time. In order to avoid conflict, CVS provides a locking mechanism. A file that is locked by one developer can not be committed by another developer. The following pictorial slide will show you how to lock a file.

Locking a file Make sure the file you want to lock is highlighted Click the trace menu and select ‘reserved edit’. Once you do that it will remain locked until you unlock it or you check in the file in which case it is going to unlock automatically

Locking a file Lets just attempt to make a change to the same file by a different user.

Locking a File We commit the change we made. The message we get here indicated that the user is not valid and the file is locked. Therefore we can not commit until it is released by the other user.

Other Capabilities Editors – Allows you to see who is currently editing a file. Watchers – Notifies when someone intends to change a file. Update – Allows you to update other peoples change.

References atching%20Files