comparison man/files.texi @ 36385:d7ca85bd6906

Clean up recent VC updates.

36384:f9e19fa8951a

versions of a source file, usually storing the unchanged parts of the
file just once.  Version control systems also record history information
such as the creation time of each version, who created it, and a 
description of what was changed in that version.

  The Emacs version control interface is called VC.  It allows you to
use various version control systems from within
Emacs---currently, it supports RCS, CVS, and SCCS.  The GNU
project recommends RCS and CVS, which are free software and available
from the Free Software Foundation.  We also have free software to
replace SCCS, known as CSSC; if you are using SCCS and don't want to
make the incompatible change to RCS or CVS, you can switch to CSSC.

RCS normally use locking; CVS normally does not use locking.

@menu
* VC with Locking::     RCS in its default mode, SCCS, and optionally CVS.
* Without Locking::     Without locking: default mode for CVS.
* Extended Actions::    Avanced features available with a prefix argument.
* Log Buffer::          Features available in log entry buffers.
@end menu
               
@node VC with Locking                 
@subsubsection Basic Version Control with Locking

  Here is what @kbd{C-x C-q} does when using CVS:

@itemize @bullet
@item
If some other user has checked in changes into the master file,
Emacs asks you whether you want to merge those changes into your own
work file.  You must do this before you can check in
your own changes.  (To pick up any recent changes from the master file
@emph{without} trying to commit your own changes, type @kbd{C-x v m RET}.)
@xref{Merging}.

@item
If there are no new changes in the master file, but you have made
modifications in your work file, @kbd{C-x C-q} checks in your changes.

  In addition, locking is possible with RCS even in this mode, although
it is not required; @kbd{C-x C-q} with an unmodified file locks the
file, just as it does with RCS in its normal (locking) mode.

@node Extended Actions
@subsubsection Calling @code{vc-next-action} with a Prefix Argument

When you give a prefix argument to @code{vc-next-action} (@kbd{C-u C-x
C-q}), it still performs the next logical version control operation, but
in an extended sense.

@itemize @bullet
@item If the file is modified (or locked), you can specify the version
number that should be used for check-in.  This is also one way to create
a new branch (@pxref{Branches}).

@item If the file is not modified (and unlocked), you can specify a new
version to go to; this lets you start working from an older version, or
on another branch.  If you do not enter any version, that takes you to
the highest version on the current branch; therefore @kbd{C-u C-x C-q
RET} is a convenient way to get the latest version of a file from the
repository.

@item Regardless of the state of the file, you can also enter the name
of another version control system instead of a version number.  This
lets you use more than one version control system for a file
(@pxref{Local Version Control}).
@end itemize

@node Log Buffer
@subsubsection Features of the Log Entry Buffer

@findex vc-diff
@kindex C-x v =
  It is usually more convenient to compare two versions of the file,
with the command @kbd{C-x v =} (@code{vc-diff}).  Plain @kbd{C-x v =}
compares the current buffer contents (saving them in the file if
necessary) with the last checked-in version of the file.  @kbd{C-u C-x v
=}, with a numeric argument, reads a file name and two version numbers,
then compares those versions of the specified file.

  If you supply a directory name instead of the name of a registered
file, this command compares the two specified versions of all registered
files in that directory and its subdirectories.

  You can specify a checked-in version by its number; an empty input
specifies the current contents of the work file (which may be different
from all the checked-in versions).  You can also specify a snapshot name
(@pxref{Snapshots}) instead of one or both version numbers.

@vindex diff-switches
@vindex vc-diff-switches
  This command works by running a variant of the @code{diff} utility
that is specific to the version control system in use.  Emacs passes the
contents of the variable @code{diff-switches} to that utility; you can
define specific options for version control in @code{vc-diff-switches},
and there are similar variables for each specific system,
e.g. @code{vc-rcs-diff-switches}, and the like.

  The output of the @code{diff} command is displayed in a special buffer
in another window.  Unlike the @kbd{M-x diff} command, @kbd{C-x v =}
does not try to locate the changes in the old and new versions.  This is
because normally one or both versions do not exist as files when you
compare them; they exist only in the records of the master file.
@xref{Comparing Files}, for more information about @kbd{M-x diff}.

@findex vc-annotate
@kindex C-x v g
  For CVS-controlled files, you can display the result of the CVS

Emacs uses the first system from @var{vc-handled-backends} that could
register the file---for example, you cannot register a file under CVS if
its directory is not already part of a CVS tree.

  With the default value of @var{vc-handled-backends}, this means that
Emacs uses RCS if there are any files under RCS control, and CVS if
there are any files under CVS.  If there are no files under version
control, RCS is used.

  If locking is in use, @kbd{C-x v i} leaves the file unlocked and
read-only.  Type @kbd{C-x C-q} if you wish to start editing it.  After
registering a file with CVS, you must subsequently commit the initial
version by typing @kbd{C-x C-q}.

it.  Switching branches in this way is allowed only when the file is not
locked.

  You can omit the minor version number, thus giving only the branch
number; this takes you to the head version on the chosen branch.  If you
only type @kbd{RET}, Emacs goes to the highest version on the trunk.

  After you have switched to any branch (including the main branch), you
stay on it for subsequent VC commands, until you explicitly select some
other branch.

@kindex C-x v m
@findex vc-merge
  @kbd{C-x v m} (@code{vc-merge}) takes a set of changes and merges it
into the current version of the work file.  It firsts asks you in the
minibuffer where the changes should come from.  If you just type
@kbd{RET}, Emacs merges any changes that were made on the same branch
since you checked the file out (we call this @dfn{merging the news}).
This is the common way to pick up recent changes from the repository,
regardless of whether you have already changed the file yourself.

  You can also enter a branch number or a pair of version numbers in

  As an example, suppose that you have finished a certain feature on
branch 1.3.1.  In the meantime, development on the trunk has proceeded
to version 1.5.  To merge the changes from the branch to the trunk,
first go to the head version of the trunk, by typing @kbd{C-u C-x C-q
RET}.  Version 1.5 is now current.  If locking is used for the file,
type @kbd{C-x C-q} to lock version 1.5 so that you can change it.  Next,
type @kbd{C-x v m 1.3.1 RET}.  This takes the entire set of changes on
branch 1.3.1 (relative to version 1.3, where the branch started, up to
the last version on the branch) and merges it into the current version
of the work file.  You can now check in the changed file, thus creating
version 1.6 containing the changes from the branch.

@node Remote Repositories
@subsection Remote Repositories
@cindex remote repositories (CVS)

Many projects set up a central CVS repository somewhere in the Internet,
and let each user check out a personal working copy of the files to
his local machine.  Committing changes to the repository, and picking
up changes from other users into one's own working area, then works by
direct interactions with the CVS server.  

The problem is that access to the CVS server is often slow, and that
developers might need to work offline as well.  VC therefore offers
some features that allow you to keep network interactions to a
minimum.

@menu
* Version Backups::        Keeping local copies of repository versions.
* Local Version Control::  Using another version system for local editing.
@end menu

@node Version Backups
@subsubsection Version Backups
@cindex version backups

When VC sees that the CVS repository for a file is on a remote machine,
it automatically makes local backups of unmodified versions of the file.
This means that you can compare the file to the repository version
(@kbd{C-x v =}), or revert to that version (@kbd{C-x v u}), without any
network interactions.

The local copy of the unmodified file is called a @dfn{version backup}.
This is to indicate that it corresponds exactly to a version that is
stored in the repository.  Note that version backups are related to,
but distinct from the other kinds of backups that Emacs can make:
single backups and numbered backups (@pxref{Backup}).

@vindex vc-cvs-stay-local
For a file that comes from a remote CVS repository, VC makes a version
backup whenever you save the first changes to the file, and removes it
after you have committed your modified version to the repository.  (You
can switch this off by setting the variable @code{vc-cvs-stay-local} to
@code{nil}.)

@cindex automatic version backups
@cindex manual version backups
The name of a version backup for a file named @var{file}, with version
@var{version}, is @code{@var{file}.~@var{version}.~}.  Note that this
naming convention is almost the same as that used by @kbd{C-x v ~}
(@pxref{Old Versions}), the only difference being the additional dot
(@samp{.}) after the version number.  This similarity is intentional,
because both kinds of files store the same kind of information.  To
distinguish between them, we speak of @dfn{automatic version backups}
(those created by the mechanism described here) and @dfn{manual version
backups} (created by @kbd{C-x v ~}).  Their primary difference is that
Emacs deletes automatic version backups when you commit to the
repository (this is why the trailing dot is needed to identify them),
while manual version backups are never deleted automatically.

Each of the two mechanisms can use the files created by the other one.
For example, if you changed a file outside of Emacs, so that no
automatic version backup was created, you can create a manual backup of
that version using @kbd{C-x v ~}.  Emacs will then use that file for
local diff and revert operations.

@node Local Version Control
@subsubsection Local Version Control
@cindex local version control
@cindex local back end (version control)

systems at the same time.  For the description here, we will assume
that the remote system is CVS, and you use RCS locally, although the
mechanism works with any combination of version control systems
(@dfn{back ends}).

To make it work with other back ends, you must make sure that the "more
local" back end comes before the "more remote" back end in the setting
of @var{vc-handled-backends} (@pxref{Customizing VC}).  By default, this
variable is set up correctly so that you can use RCS and CVS as
described here.

To start using local RCS for a file that comes from a remote CVS server,
you must @dfn{commit the file to RCS}, by typing @kbd{C-u C-x v v rcs
RET}.  (In other words, @code{vc-next-action}, when called with a prefix
argument, accepts a back end name in place of the version to commit to.)
VC then registers the file under RCS.

You can commit to RCS at any time; it does not matter whether you have
already modified the file with respect to the version in the CVS
repository.  If possible, VC tries to make the RCS master start with
the unmodified repository version, then checking in any local changes
as a new version.  This works if you have not made any changes yet,
or if the unmodified repository version exists locally as a version
backup (@pxref{Version Backups}).  If the unmodified version is not
available locally, the RCS master starts with the modified version;
the only problem with this is that you cannot compare your changes
locally to what is stored in the repository.

The version number of the RCS master is derived from the current CVS
version, starting a branch from it.  For example, if the current CVS
version is 1.23, the local RCS branch will be 1.23.1.  Version 1.23 in
the RCS master will be identical to version 1.23 under CVS; your first
changes are checked in as 1.23.1.1.  (If the unmodified file is not
available locally, VC will check-in the modified file twice, both as
1.23 and 1.23.1.1, to make the revision numbers consistent.)

If you do not use locking under CVS (the default), locking is also
switched off under RCS, so that editing under RCS works exactly as
under CVS.  

When you are done with your edits, you can commit the final version back
to the CVS repository, typing @kbd{C-u C-x v v cvs RET}.  Emacs will
initialize the log entry buffer (@pxref{Log Buffer}) to contain all the
check-in comments you have made in the RCS master; you can make changes
to these comments as needed and then commit to CVS by typing @kbd{C-c
C-c}.  If the commit is successful, VC finally removes the RCS master,
so that the file becomes once again registered under CVS only.  (The RCS
master is not actually deleted, but renamed by adding a @samp{~} to its
name, so that you can get back to it later if you want.)

While you are working with a local RCS master, you might still want to
pick up recent changes from the CVS repository into your local file,
or you might want to commit some of your changes back to CVS, without
actually switching back to CVS completely.  VC lets you do this by
switching to another backend temporarily.

@table @kbd
@item C-x v b
Switch to any other back end that the current file is registered
under (@code{vc-switch-backend}).
@end table

@kindex C-x v b
@findex vc-switch-backend
If the current file is registered in more than one back end, typing
@kbd{C-x v b} lets you ``cycle'' through these back ends.  (With a prefix
argument, it asks for the back end to use in the minibuffer.)  This
command does not change any files, it only changes VC's perspective of
the file.  Any other VC commands that you use on a file will operate on
the back end that is currently selected.

Thus, if you have a file under local RCS, and you want to pick up some
recent changes from CVS, type @kbd{C-x v b} to switch to CVS, and then
@kbd{C-x v m RET} to merge the news (@pxref{Merging}).  You can then switch
back to RCS by typing @kbd{C-x v b} again, and continue to edit locally.

Note though, that if you do this, the revision numbers in the RCS
master no longer correspond to those of CVS in a meaningful way.
Technically, this is not a problem, but it might be more difficult for
you to keep track of what is in the repository and what is not.  So we
suggest that, frequently, you commit your changes back to CVS
completely using @kbd{C-u C-x v v cvs RET}.

@node Snapshots
@subsection Snapshots
@cindex snapshots and version control

@end iftex

@noindent
You can then edit the new change log entry further as you wish.

  Unfortunately, timestamps in ChangeLog files are only dates, so some
of the new change log entry may duplicate what's already in ChangeLog.
You will have to remove these duplicates by hand.

  Normally, the log entry for file @file{foo} is displayed as @samp{*
foo: @var{text of log entry}}.  The @samp{:} after @file{foo} is omitted
if the text of the log entry starts with @w{@samp{(@var{functionname}):
}}.  For example, if the log entry for @file{vc.el} is

VC uses the system that comes first in @var{vc-handled-backends} by
default.  The order is also significant when you register a file for
the first time, @pxref{Registering} for details.

@menu
* General VC Options::  Options not specific for any back end system.
* RCS Options::         Options for RCS.
* CVS Options::         Options for CVS.
* SCCS Options::        Options for SCCS.
@end menu

@node General VC Options
@subsubsection General Options

displays messages to indicate which shell commands it runs, and
additional messages when the commands finish.

@vindex vc-path
  You can specify additional directories to search for version control
programs by setting the variable @code{vc-path}.  These directories are
searched before the usual search path.  But the proper files are usually
found automatically.

@node RCS Options
@subsubsection Options specific for RCS

@cindex non-strict locking (RCS)
@cindex locking, non-strict (RCS)
  By default, RCS uses locking to coordinate the activities of several
users, but there is a mode called @dfn{non-strict locking} in which
you can check-in changes without locking the file first.  Use
@samp{rcs -U} to switch to non-strict locking for a particular file,
see the @samp{rcs(1)} manpage for details.

  When deducing the version control state of a file, VC first looks
for an RCS version header string in the file (@pxref{Version
Headers}).  If there is no header string, VC normally looks at the
file permissions of the work file; this is fast.  But there might be
situations when the file permissions cannot be trusted.  In this case
the master file has to be consulted, which is rather expensive.  Also
the master file can only tell you @emph{if} there's any lock on the

version.

@vindex vc-consult-headers
  You can tell VC not to use version headers to determine the file
status by setting @code{vc-consult-headers} to @code{nil}.  VC then
always uses the file permissions (if it can trust them), or else
checks the master file.

@vindex vc-mistrust-permissions
  You can specify the criterion for whether to trust the file
permissions by setting the variable @code{vc-mistrust-permissions}.
Its value can be @code{t} (always mistrust the file permissions and

non-@code{nil} value from the function says to mistrust the file
permissions.  If you find that the file permissions of work files are
changed erroneously, set @code{vc-mistrust-permissions} to @code{t}.
Then VC always checks the master file to determine the file's status.

@node CVS Options
@subsubsection Options specific for CVS

@cindex locking (CVS)
  By default, CVS does not use locking to coordinate the activities of
several users; anyone can change a work file at any time.  However,
there are ways to restrict this, resulting in behavior that resembles
locking.

@cindex CVSREAD environment variable (CVS)
  For one thing, you can set the @env{CVSREAD} environment variable to
an arbitrary value.  If this variable is defined, CVS makes your work
files read-only by default.  In Emacs, you must type @kbd{C-x C-q} to
make the file writeable, so that editing works in fact similar as if
locking was used.  Note however, that no actual locking is performed, so
several users can make their files writeable at the same time.  When
setting @env{CVSREAD} for the first time, make sure to check out all
your modules anew, so that the file protections are set correctly.

@cindex cvs watch feature
@cindex watching files (CVS)
  Another way to achieve something similar to locking is to use the
@dfn{watch} feature of CVS.  If a file is being watched, CVS makes it

state (and possibly information returned by previous CVS commands).  One
consequence of this is that when you have modified a file, and somebody
else has already checked in other changes to the file, you are not
notified of it until you actually try to commit.  (But you can try to
pick up any recent changes from the repository first, using @kbd{C-x v m
RET}, @pxref{Merging}).

  When @var{vc-cvs-stay-local} is @code{t}, VC also makes local
version backups, so that simple diff and revert operations are
completely local (@pxref{Version Backups}).

  On the other hand, if you set @var{vc-cvs-stay-local} to @code{nil},
then VC queries the remote repository @emph{before} it decides what to
do in @code{vc-next-action} (@kbd{C-x v v}), just as it does for local
repositories.  It also does not make any version backups.

  You can also set @var{vc-cvs-stay-local} to a regexp that is matched
against the repository hostname; VC then stays local only for
repositories from hosts that match the pattern.

@node SCCS Options
@subsubsection Options specific for SCCS

VC determines the version control state of files under SCCS similar as
under RCS.  It does not consider SCCS version headers, though.  Thus,
the variable @var{vc-mistrust-permissions} is used in the same way as
under RCS, @pxref{RCS Options} for details.


@node Directories
@section File Directories

@cindex file directory

  If you enable Auto Compression mode (@pxref{Compressed Files}), then
Tar mode is used also for compressed archives---files with extensions
@samp{.tgz}, @code{.tar.Z} and @code{.tar.gz}.

  The keys @kbd{e}, @kbd{f} and @kbd{RET} all extract a component file
into its own buffer.  You can edit it there and when you save the buffer
the edited version will replace the version in the Tar buffer.  @kbd{v}
extracts a file into a buffer in View mode.  @kbd{o} extracts the file
and displays it in another window, so you could edit the file and
operate on the archive simultaneously.  @kbd{d} marks a file for

36385:d7ca85bd6906

versions of a source file, usually storing the unchanged parts of the
file just once.  Version control systems also record history information
such as the creation time of each version, who created it, and a 
description of what was changed in that version.

  The Emacs version control interface is called VC.  Its commands work
with three version control systems---RCS, CVS, and SCCS.  The GNU
project recommends RCS and CVS, which are free software and available
from the Free Software Foundation.  We also have free software to
replace SCCS, known as CSSC; if you are using SCCS and don't want to
make the incompatible change to RCS or CVS, you can switch to CSSC.

RCS normally use locking; CVS normally does not use locking.

@menu
* VC with Locking::     RCS in its default mode, SCCS, and optionally CVS.
* Without Locking::     Without locking: default mode for CVS.
* Extended C-x C-q::    Advanced features available with a prefix argument.
* Log Buffer::          Features available in log entry buffers.
@end menu
               
@node VC with Locking                 
@subsubsection Basic Version Control with Locking

  Here is what @kbd{C-x C-q} does when using CVS:

@itemize @bullet
@item
If some other user has checked in changes into the master file, Emacs
asks you whether you want to merge those changes into your own work
file.  You must do this before you can check in your own changes.  (To
pick up any recent changes from the master file @emph{without} trying
to commit your own changes, type @kbd{C-x v m @key{RET}}.)
@xref{Merging}.

@item
If there are no new changes in the master file, but you have made
modifications in your work file, @kbd{C-x C-q} checks in your changes.

  In addition, locking is possible with RCS even in this mode, although
it is not required; @kbd{C-x C-q} with an unmodified file locks the
file, just as it does with RCS in its normal (locking) mode.

@node Advanced C-x C-q
@subsubsection Advanced Control in @kbd{C-x C-q}

  When you give a prefix argument to @code{vc-next-action} (@kbd{C-u
C-x C-q}), it still performs the next logical version control
operation, but accepts additional arguments to specify precisely how
to do the operation.

@itemize @bullet
@item
If the file is modified (or locked), you can specify the version
number to use for the new verion that you check-in.  This is one way
to create a new branch (@pxref{Branches}).

@item
If the file is not modified (and unlocked), you can specify the
version to select; this lets you start working from an older version,
or on another branch.  If you do not enter any version, that takes you
to the highest version on the current branch; therefore @kbd{C-u C-x
C-q @key{RET}} is a convenient way to get the latest version of a file from
the repository.

@item
Instead of the version number, you can also specify the name of a
version control system.  This is useful when one file is being managed
with two version control systems at the same time file (@pxref{Local
Version Control}).
@end itemize

@node Log Buffer
@subsubsection Features of the Log Entry Buffer

@findex vc-diff
@kindex C-x v =
  It is usually more convenient to compare two versions of the file,
with the command @kbd{C-x v =} (@code{vc-diff}).  Plain @kbd{C-x v =}
compares the current buffer contents (saving them in the file if
necessary) with the last checked-in version of the file.  @kbd{C-u C-x
v =}, with a numeric argument, reads a file name and two version
numbers, then compares those versions of the specified file.  Both
forms display the output in a special buffer in another window.

  You can specify a checked-in version by its number; an empty input
specifies the current contents of the work file (which may be different
from all the checked-in versions).  You can also specify a snapshot name
(@pxref{Snapshots}) instead of one or both version numbers.

  If you supply a directory name instead of the name of a registered
file, this command compares the two specified versions of all registered
files in that directory and its subdirectories.

@vindex diff-switches
@vindex vc-diff-switches
  @kbd{C-x v =} works by running a variant of the @code{diff} utility
designed to work with the version control system in use.  Emacs passes
the contents of the variable @code{diff-switches} to it; you can
specify comparison options for version control in
@code{vc-diff-switches}, and there are similar variables for each
specific system---@code{vc-rcs-diff-switches}, and so on.

  Unlike the @kbd{M-x diff} command, @kbd{C-x v =} does not try to
locate the changes in the old and new versions.  This is because
normally one or both versions do not exist as files when you compare
them; they exist only in the records of the master file.
@xref{Comparing Files}, for more information about @kbd{M-x diff}.

@findex vc-annotate
@kindex C-x v g
  For CVS-controlled files, you can display the result of the CVS

Emacs uses the first system from @var{vc-handled-backends} that could
register the file---for example, you cannot register a file under CVS if
its directory is not already part of a CVS tree.

  With the default value of @var{vc-handled-backends}, this means that
Emacs uses RCS if there are any files under RCS control, or CVS if
there are any files under CVS, or RCS as the ultimate default.

  If locking is in use, @kbd{C-x v i} leaves the file unlocked and
read-only.  Type @kbd{C-x C-q} if you wish to start editing it.  After
registering a file with CVS, you must subsequently commit the initial
version by typing @kbd{C-x C-q}.

it.  Switching branches in this way is allowed only when the file is not
locked.

  You can omit the minor version number, thus giving only the branch
number; this takes you to the head version on the chosen branch.  If you
only type @key{RET}, Emacs goes to the highest version on the trunk.

  After you have switched to any branch (including the main branch), you
stay on it for subsequent VC commands, until you explicitly select some
other branch.

@kindex C-x v m
@findex vc-merge
  @kbd{C-x v m} (@code{vc-merge}) takes a set of changes and merges it
into the current version of the work file.  It firsts asks you in the
minibuffer where the changes should come from.  If you just type
@key{RET}, Emacs merges any changes that were made on the same branch
since you checked the file out (we call this @dfn{merging the news}).
This is the common way to pick up recent changes from the repository,
regardless of whether you have already changed the file yourself.

  You can also enter a branch number or a pair of version numbers in

  As an example, suppose that you have finished a certain feature on
branch 1.3.1.  In the meantime, development on the trunk has proceeded
to version 1.5.  To merge the changes from the branch to the trunk,
first go to the head version of the trunk, by typing @kbd{C-u C-x C-q
@key{RET}}.  Version 1.5 is now current.  If locking is used for the file,
type @kbd{C-x C-q} to lock version 1.5 so that you can change it.  Next,
type @kbd{C-x v m 1.3.1 @key{RET}}.  This takes the entire set of changes on
branch 1.3.1 (relative to version 1.3, where the branch started, up to
the last version on the branch) and merges it into the current version
of the work file.  You can now check in the changed file, thus creating
version 1.6 containing the changes from the branch.

@node Remote Repositories
@subsection Remote Repositories
@cindex remote repositories (CVS)

  A common way of using CVS is to set up a central CVS repository on
some Internet host, then have each developer check out a personal
working copy of the files on his local machine.  Committing changes to
the repository, and picking up changes from other users into one's own
working area, then works by direct interactions with the CVS server.

  One difficulty is that access to the CVS server is often slow, and
that developers might need to work offline as well.  VC is designed
to reduce the amount of network interaction necessary.

@menu
* Version Backups::        Keeping local copies of repository versions.
* Local Version Control::  Using another version system for local editing.
@end menu

@node Version Backups
@subsubsection Version Backups
@cindex version backups

@cindex automatic version backups
  When VC sees that the CVS repository for a file is on a remote
machine, it automatically makes local backups of unmodified versions
of the file---@dfn{automatic version backups}.  This means that you
can compare the file to the repository version (@kbd{C-x v =}), or
revert to that version (@kbd{C-x v u}), without any network
interactions.

  The local copy of the unmodified file is called a @dfn{version
backup} to indicate that it corresponds exactly to a version that is
stored in the repository.  Note that version backups are not the same
as ordinary Emacs backup files (@pxref{Backup}).  But they follow a
similar naming convention.

  For a file that comes from a remote CVS repository, VC makes a
version backup whenever you save the first changes to the file, and
removes it after you have committed your modified version to the
repository. You can disable the making of automatic version backups by
setting @code{vc-cvs-stay-local} to @code{nil} (@pxref{CVS Options}).

@cindex manual version backups
  The name of the automatic version backup for version @var{version}
of file @var{file} is @code{@var{file}.~@var{version}.~}.  This is
almost the same as the name used by @kbd{C-x v ~} (@pxref{Old
Versions}), the only difference being the additional dot (@samp{.})
after the version number.  This similarity is intentional, because
both kinds of files store the same kind of information.  The file made
by @kbd{C-x v ~} acts as a @dfn{manual version backup}.

  All the VC commands that operate on old versions of a file can use
both kinds of version backups.  For instance, @kbd{C-x v ~} uses
either an automatic or a manual version backup, if possible, to get
the contents of the version you request.  Likewise, @kbd{C-x v =} and
@kbd{C-x v u} use either an automatic or a manual version backup, if
one of them exists, to get the contents of a version to compare or
revert to.  If you changed a file outside of Emacs, so that no
automatic version backup was created for the previous text, you can
create a manual backup of that version using @kbd{C-x v ~}, and thus
obtain the benefit of the local copy for Emacs commands.

  The only difference in Emacs's handling of manual and automatic
version backups, once they exist, is that Emacs deletes automatic
version backups when you commit to the repository.  By contrast,
manual version backups remain until you delete them.

@node Local Version Control
@subsubsection Local Version Control
@cindex local version control
@cindex local back end (version control)

systems at the same time.  For the description here, we will assume
that the remote system is CVS, and you use RCS locally, although the
mechanism works with any combination of version control systems
(@dfn{back ends}).

To make it work with other back ends, you must make sure that the
``more local'' back end comes before the ``more remote'' back end in
the setting of @var{vc-handled-backends} (@pxref{Customizing VC}).  By
default, this variable is set up so that you can use remote CVS and
local RCS as described here.

To start using local RCS for a file that comes from a remote CVS
server, you must @emph{register the file in RCS}, by typing @kbd{C-u
C-x v v rcs @key{RET}}.  (In other words, use @code{vc-next-action} with a
prefix argument, and specify RCS as the back end.)

You can do this at any time; it does not matter whether you have
already modified the file with respect to the version in the CVS
repository.  If possible, VC tries to make the RCS master start with
the unmodified repository version, then checking in any local changes
as a new version.  This works if you have not made any changes yet, or
if the unmodified repository version exists locally as a version
backup (@pxref{Version Backups}).  If the unmodified version is not
available locally, the RCS master starts with the modified version;
the only drawback of this is that you cannot compare your changes
locally to what is stored in the repository.

The version number of the RCS master is derived from the current CVS
version, starting a branch from it.  For example, if the current CVS
version is 1.23, the local RCS branch will be 1.23.1.  Version 1.23 in
the RCS master will be identical to version 1.23 under CVS; your first
changes are checked in as 1.23.1.1.  (If the unmodified file is not
available locally, VC will check in the modified file twice, both as
1.23 and 1.23.1.1, to make the revision numbers consistent.)

If you do not use locking under CVS (the default), locking is also
disabled for RCS, so that editing under RCS works exactly as under
CVS.

When you are done with your edits, you can commit the final version
back to the CVS repository, typing @kbd{C-u C-x v v cvs @key{RET}}.  Emacs
will initialize the log entry buffer (@pxref{Log Buffer}) to contain
all the log entries you have recorded in the RCS master; you can make
changes to these comments as needed, and then commit in CVS by typing
@kbd{C-c C-c}.  If the commit is successful, VC removes the RCS
master, so that the file is once again registered under CVS only.
(The RCS master is not actually deleted, just renamed by appending
@samp{~} to the name, so that you can refer to it later if you wish.)

While you are working with a local RCS master, you may still want to
pick up recent changes from the CVS repository into your local file,
or you might want to commit some of your changes back to CVS, without
actually switching back to CVS completely.  You can do this by
switching to another backend temporarily.

@table @kbd
@item C-x v b
Switch to another back end that the current file is registered
under (@code{vc-switch-backend}).

@item C-u C-x v b @var{backend} @key{RET}
Switch to @var{backend} for the current file.
@end table

@kindex C-x v b
@findex vc-switch-backend
@kbd{C-x v b} does not change the buffer contents, or any files; it
only changes VC's perspective on how to handle the file.  Any
subsequent VC commands for that file will operate on the back end that
is currently selected.

If the current file is registered in more than one back end, typing
@kbd{C-x v b} ``cycles'' through all of these back ends.  With a
prefix argument, it asks for the back end to use in the minibuffer.

Thus, if you have a file under local RCS, and you want to pick up some
recent changes from CVS, type @kbd{C-x v b} to switch to CVS, and then
@kbd{C-x v m @key{RET}} to merge the news (@pxref{Merging}).  You can
then switch back to RCS by typing @kbd{C-x v b} again, and continue to
edit locally.

Note though, that if you do this, the revision numbers in the RCS
master no longer correspond to those of CVS in a meaningful way.
Technically, this is not a problem, but it might be more difficult for
you to keep track of what is in the repository and what is not.  So we
suggest that, frequently, you commit your changes back to CVS
completely using @kbd{C-u C-x v v cvs @key{RET}}.

@node Snapshots
@subsection Snapshots
@cindex snapshots and version control

@end iftex

@noindent
You can then edit the new change log entry further as you wish.

  Some of the new change log entry may duplicate what's already in
ChangeLog.  You will have to remove these duplicates by hand.

  Normally, the log entry for file @file{foo} is displayed as @samp{*
foo: @var{text of log entry}}.  The @samp{:} after @file{foo} is omitted
if the text of the log entry starts with @w{@samp{(@var{functionname}):
}}.  For example, if the log entry for @file{vc.el} is

VC uses the system that comes first in @var{vc-handled-backends} by
default.  The order is also significant when you register a file for
the first time, @pxref{Registering} for details.

@menu
* General VC Options::  Options that apply to multiple back ends.
* RCS and SCCS::        Options for RCS and SCCS.
* CVS Options::         Options for CVS.
@end menu

@node General VC Options
@subsubsection General Options

displays messages to indicate which shell commands it runs, and
additional messages when the commands finish.

@vindex vc-path
  You can specify additional directories to search for version control
programs by setting the variable @code{vc-path}.  These directories
are searched before the usual search path.  It is rarely necessary to
set this variable, because VC normally finds the proper files
automatically.

@node RCS and SCCS
@subsubsection Options for RCS and SCCS

@cindex non-strict locking (RCS)
@cindex locking, non-strict (RCS)
  By default, RCS uses locking to coordinate the activities of several
users, but there is a mode called @dfn{non-strict locking} in which
you can check-in changes without locking the file first.  Use
@samp{rcs -U} to switch to non-strict locking for a particular file,
see the @code{rcs} manpage for details.

  When deducing the version control state of an RCS file, VC first
looks for an RCS version header string in the file (@pxref{Version
Headers}).  If there is no header string, VC normally looks at the
file permissions of the work file; this is fast.  But there might be
situations when the file permissions cannot be trusted.  In this case
the master file has to be consulted, which is rather expensive.  Also
the master file can only tell you @emph{if} there's any lock on the

version.

@vindex vc-consult-headers
  You can tell VC not to use version headers to determine the file
status by setting @code{vc-consult-headers} to @code{nil}.  VC then
always uses the file permissions (if it is supposed to trust them), or
else checks the master file.

@vindex vc-mistrust-permissions
  You can specify the criterion for whether to trust the file
permissions by setting the variable @code{vc-mistrust-permissions}.
Its value can be @code{t} (always mistrust the file permissions and

non-@code{nil} value from the function says to mistrust the file
permissions.  If you find that the file permissions of work files are
changed erroneously, set @code{vc-mistrust-permissions} to @code{t}.
Then VC always checks the master file to determine the file's status.

  VC determines the version control state of files under SCCS much as
with RCS.  It does not consider SCCS version headers, though.  Thus,
the variable @var{vc-mistrust-permissions} affects SCCS use, but
@var{vc-consult-headers} does not.

@node CVS Options
@subsubsection Options specific for CVS

@cindex locking (CVS)
  By default, CVS does not use locking to coordinate the activities of
several users; anyone can change a work file at any time.  However,
there are ways to restrict this, resulting in behavior that resembles
locking.

@cindex CVSREAD environment variable (CVS)
  For one thing, you can set the @env{CVSREAD} environment variable
(the value you use makes no difference).  If this variable is defined,
CVS makes your work files read-only by default.  In Emacs, you must
type @kbd{C-x C-q} to make the file writeable, so that editing works
in fact similar as if locking was used.  Note however, that no actual
locking is performed, so several users can make their files writeable
at the same time.  When setting @env{CVSREAD} for the first time, make
sure to check out all your modules anew, so that the file protections
are set correctly.

@cindex cvs watch feature
@cindex watching files (CVS)
  Another way to achieve something similar to locking is to use the
@dfn{watch} feature of CVS.  If a file is being watched, CVS makes it

state (and possibly information returned by previous CVS commands).  One
consequence of this is that when you have modified a file, and somebody
else has already checked in other changes to the file, you are not
notified of it until you actually try to commit.  (But you can try to
pick up any recent changes from the repository first, using @kbd{C-x v m
@key{RET}}, @pxref{Merging}).

  When @var{vc-cvs-stay-local} is @code{t}, VC also makes local
version backups, so that simple diff and revert operations are
completely local (@pxref{Version Backups}).

  On the other hand, if you set @var{vc-cvs-stay-local} to @code{nil},
then VC queries the remote repository @emph{before} it decides what to
do in @code{vc-next-action} (@kbd{C-x v v}), just as it does for local
repositories.  It also does not make any version backups.

  You can also set @var{vc-cvs-stay-local} to a regular expression
that is matched against the repository hostname; VC then stays local
only for repositories from hosts that match the pattern.

@node Directories
@section File Directories

@cindex file directory

  If you enable Auto Compression mode (@pxref{Compressed Files}), then
Tar mode is used also for compressed archives---files with extensions
@samp{.tgz}, @code{.tar.Z} and @code{.tar.gz}.

  The keys @kbd{e}, @kbd{f} and @key{RET} all extract a component file
into its own buffer.  You can edit it there and when you save the buffer
the edited version will replace the version in the Tar buffer.  @kbd{v}
extracts a file into a buffer in View mode.  @kbd{o} extracts the file
and displays it in another window, so you could edit the file and
operate on the archive simultaneously.  @kbd{d} marks a file for