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 LocationClick 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 changesGood 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

www.wincvs.org www.cvsnt+march-hare.com www.devguy.com/fp/cfgmgmt/cvs/startup/

#Watching%20Files