Comments on: Subversion Tip of the Day – Moving Files

By: popeto

popeto — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:27:08 +0000

Another approach is to actually right click and view the repository. There you CAN drag a folder/file from one location to another, and subversion retains the history. When you sync, you will see the items added/deleted to reflect the new location.

If you are not seeing the history after either approach, and are using tortoise, make sure you have the “Stop on copy/rename” checkbox at the bottom of the Log Messages window unchecked.

By: O. Ward

O. Ward — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:11:41 +0000

I tried it with TortoiseSVN 1.6.3, Build 16613. It didn’t work. The history was lost after the SVN move.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:19:14 +0000

I was always wondering how to do this with TortoiseSVN and now I know. Thanks!

By: jlockwood

jlockwood — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:36:57 +0000

@Arvind I haven’t used Tortiose in a while, but I still use svn daily (mostly at command line). So, assuming I’m on track here:

You are correct, you can’t see the Add in the history until commit. Before continuing, I’d like to add that svn mv, svn rename, and svn ren are the same command. Here’s a simple model of the rename at the command line:

# added a new file to svn directory
svn add test_file.jmx
>> A test_file.jmx

# committed it
svn commit -m “test check-in” test_file.jmx
>> Adding test_file.jmx
>> Transmitting file data .
>> Committed revision 30394.

# now it can be found in repository
svn log test_file.jmx
————————————————————————
>> r30394 | jlockwood | 2009-09-23 12:59:03 -0500 (Wed, 23 Sep 2009) | 3 >> lines
>>
>> test commit

# now I rename it
svn ren test_file.jmx my_test_file.jmx
>> A my_test_file.jmx
>> D test_file.jmx

# now I’ll commit each part separately (instead of typical ‘svn commit’ for complete rename)
svn commit -m “commit after rename” test_file.jmx
>> Deleting test_file.jmx
>>
>> Committed revision 30410.

svn commit -m “commit after rename” my_test_file.jmx
>> Adding my_test_file.jmx
>> Transmitting file data .
>> Committed revision 30411.

* so you can see by the “test commit” message that the revision history of the same “file” is preserved, even though the filename has changed. It is true that you will see an Add/Delete pair for a rename or move command, but the important thing is that as files are moved and/or renamed they do not lose continuity in regard to their revision history.

By: Arvind

Arvind — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:33:29 +0000

I am not sure I understand completely. How can you see the History when it is in Add mode after move. Do you need to commit after you see add?

By: Modern Art Sale

Modern Art Sale — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:39:11 +0000

I tried today using the same technique to RENAME the files, keeping in the same folder – and SVN lost the connection. The result was “delete old, add new”.

By: Venkata Ramesh

Venkata Ramesh — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:44:48 +0000

very very usefull. It save so much time for me. Thank you

By: Venkata Ramesh

Venkata Ramesh — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:42:42 +0000

greatefull

By: ART by LENA

ART by LENA — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:58:55 +0000

Thank you very much for your time! That hidden SVN menu was definitely not obvious…..

By: Asif

Asif — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:31:10 +0000

Thanks for the tip……I was surprised not to find a move option in the normal right-click context menu of TortoiseSVN……this helped a lot.

The method is easy to use once you have figured it out……but I think it’s quite non-intuitive.