TkCVS(n)

NAME
TkCVS - a Tk/Tcl Graphical Interface to CVS

SYNOPSIS
tkcvs [-dir directory] [-root cvsroot] [-win workdir|module]

DESCRIPTION

TkCVS is a Tcl/Tk-based graphical interface to the CVS configuration management system. It displays the status of the files in the current working directory, and proves buttons and menus to execute CVS commands on the selected files. TkDiff is included for browsing and merging your changes.

TkCVS extends CVS with a method to produce a browsable, "user friendly" listing of modules in the repository. This requires some manual editing of the CVSROOT/modules file the first time - see the online help.

OPTIONS

TkCVS accepts the following options.

-dir directory
    Start TkCVS in the specified directory.

-help
    Print a usage message.

-root cvsroot
    Set $CVSROOT to the specified repository.

-win {workdir|module}
    Start by displaying the directory browser (the default) or the Module Browser. If you start with the Module Browser, the directory browser is iconified.

For example, if you want to browse the modules located in /jaz/repository, you would type

        tkcvs -win module -root /jaz/repository.

WORKING WITH TkCVS

To work with files from the repository using TkCVS, first you need to select a directory (sometimes called a sandbox) to work in. You can create a subdirectory from your home directory (I use develop for all of my development software, you may like to use src or progs), or you may work from your home directory.

After selecting this directory and navigating into it using the directory display, you can select a module to work with. In CVS, groups of files are arranged into modules for easy access.

TkCVS arranges modules into directories and subdirectories in a tree structure much in the same way that you would arrange them in your home directory. You can navigate through the TkCVS module tree using the Module Browser window.

  Working with files from the repository

Using the Module Browser window, you can select a module to check out. Each module has a module code which is displayed as you browse through the module tree. When you check out a module, a new directory is created in your working directory with the same name as the module code.

You can then change into the new directory that TkCVS has created, and all of the files in that module will be in the directory. You can use the simple file management and editing features of TkCVS to work with files in this directory, or you may use your own text editor, word processor, or whatever to work with the files.

Once you have finished your edits (or whenever you have reached a stable stage in your development, or possibly even on a daily basis), you can check files back in to TkCVS using the Check In button.

  Tagging and Branching

You can tag particular versions of a module or file in the repository. Normally you will do this when your programs are ready to be released into a testing or production environment. Tagging is useful for taking snapshots of what the repository contained at a particular date (for example you can tag all of the files associated with a particular software release).

You can also create branches based on tags or on particular versions of the files in the repository. This allows you to go back and fix particular bugs or make important patches to an earlier release of software while still being able to work on the latest version.

You can use symbolic tag names to refer to versions of files in the repository, instead of just numeric version numbers. For example you can use the tag name software_release_1_5 to indicate release 1.5 of a group of files destined for a customer site.

  Exporting

Once a software release has been tagged, you can use a special type of check out called an export. This allows you to more cleanly check out files from the repository, without all of the administrivia that CVS requires you to have while working on the files. This type of facility is useful for delivery of a software release to a customer.

  Importing

TkCVS contains a special dialog to allow users to import new files into the repository. New modules can be assigned places within the repository, as well as descriptive names (so that other people know what they are for).

  Working inside the repository

TkCVS contains some features that enable it to work inside the repository. The Module Browser window displays the directories and modules within the repository in a tree structured manner.

The Module Browser can invoke a file browser window that enables you to list the files within the module, and view a specific version of a file and see its branches and tags.

The log browser window contains a graphical display of a revision log for a file, and enables you to see the differences between two versions of a file by clicking on the versions in the display.

  Other Features

Other features of TkCVS allow you to tag files, add new files or delete files from the repository, or view and print reports about the repository contents. You can also search the module database for module codes, module names, and keywords within a module name.

CHECKING OUT MODULES

To check out a module, first display the Module Browser using the Module Browse button. Note that you do not have to check out modules using this dialog -- you can use it for just browsing through the modules in the repository.

Once you have found the module you are looking for in the module tree, you can check it out by pressing the Check Out button, or export it using the Export button (see the section on Exporting later in this manual).

TAGGING AND BRANCHING

CVS uses a system of tags to indicate places in the development cycle when the repository (or parts of it) are in a stable state. These tags can be applied to modules in the repository or to files within a module.

  Tagging Modules

To tag a module, first select the module using the Module Browser (note that you may tag a module or a directory tree -- to tag an entire directory tree including all of its sub-directories and modules, select the top level directory of the tree).

Enter your new tag name into the Tag A entry box. A tag name may be any alphanumeric string, but may not contain any spaces or dots. It must begin with a letter instead of a number. Sample tag names include things like software-release-1-0 or integration-test-release.

If you also enter a tag name into the Tag B entry box, then all files in that module that are currently tagged with Tag B will be also tagged with Tag A.

Select the Tag->Tag Module menu item from the menu on the Module Browser dialog, and the module or directory will be tagged with the tag name that you have entered. The dialog tells you what you are about to do and gives you a chance to change or cancel it.

  Tagging Files

You may tag individual files from within the directory browser. This is mostly useful when you only want to tag part of the files in a module, or when you are re-tagging certain files within an already tagged module.

Select the files that are to be tagged, and select the Tag button or the File->Tag Files item from the menu. This will request that you enter a tag name. The selected files will then be tagged with this tag name.

  Updating to a Tag

Once a file or module has been tagged within the repository, you may use the tag name for checking out files, or updating files to a tag name.

If a tag name is entered in the Tag A field of the browser window when you select a module for check out, then the tagged version of the module (rather than the latest version) will be checked out of the repository.

  Branching

CVS also supports the concept of branching files. When you are applying a tag, the tag may be applied as a branch tag, which means that all versions based on this tag will be placed on a branch of the main version tree instead of on the trunk.

You should update files to a branch tag before you change them if you want your changes to not affect the head version.

To read more about branching and branch tags, read the cvs manual page.

EXPORTING

An important use of tagging modules is to indicate when a new release of software is ready to be delivered, and to mark the versions of all of the files in that release within the repository.

When a release is about to be made, you may export it from the repository. This is like a check-out, except for the following:

* Exported directories do not contain the CVS or administrative directories, and are therefore cleaner (but cannot be used for checking files back in to the repository).

* Exported files do keyword expansion differently from non-exported files (to ensure that the keyword information is not lost should the file be imported into CVS at a different site).

To export a module or directory, press the Export button at the bottom of the Module Browser. You must supply a tag name when you are exporting a module -- you cannot just export the default (head) version. This is to make sure that you have the tag in place so that you can reproduce the exported files at a later date. This is called good configuration management.

IMPORTING NEW MODULES

Before importing a new module, first check to make sure that you have write permission to the repository. Also you'll have to make sure the module name is not already in use.

To import a module, first change dir to the directory where the module is located. Make sure that there is nothing in this directory except the files that you want to import.

Press the big "Module Browser" button in the top part of the tkcvs UI.

In the Module Browser, press the rightmost button on the bottom, the one that shows a folder and an up arrow.

In the dialog that pops up, fill in a descriptive title for the module. This will be what you see in the right side of the Module Browser.

OK the dialog. Several things happen now. The directory is imported, the CVSROOT/module file is updated, your original directory is saved as directory.orig, and the newly created module is checked out.

When it finishes, you should find the original Working Directory Browser showing the files in the newly created, checked out module.

Here is a more detailed description of the fields in the Import Dialog.

Module Name:
    A name for the module. This name must not already exist in the repository. Your organization could settle on a single unambiguous code for modules. One possibility is something like:

        [project code]-[subsystem code]-[module code]

Module Path:
    The location in the repository tree where your new module will be put.

Descriptive Title:
    A one-line descriptive title for your module. This will be displayed in the right-hand column of the browser.

Version Number:
    The current version number of the module. This should be a number of the form X.Y.Z where .Y and .Z are optional. You can leave this blank, in which case 1 will be used as the first version number.

CURRENT DIRECTORY DISPLAY

The current directory display shows:

* The name of the current directory. You can change directories by typing in this field.

* The location of the current directory in the CVS repository. If it is not contained in the repository you may import it using the Import button.

* A Directory Tag name, if the directory is contained in the CVS repository and it has been checked out against a particular CVS version tag.

* The CVSROOT of the current directory if it is in the CVS repository, or the setting of the $CVSROOT environment if it is not.

* A list of the files in the current directory with an icon next to each. You select a file by clicking on its name or icon once with the left mouse button. Holding the Control key while clicking will add the file to the group of those already selected. You can select a contiguous group of files by holding the Shift key while clicking. You can also select a group of files by dragging the mouse with the middle or right button pressed to select an area. Selecting an item that's already selected de-selects that item. To unselect all files, click the left mouse button in an empty area of the file list.

* If cvscfg(showstatcol) is set, the cvs status of the file will be spelled out in text.

* If cvscfg(showdatecol) is set, the modification time of the file is shown. The format of the date column may be specified with cvscfg(dateformat). The default one sorts the same way alphabetically as chronologically.

* If cvscfg(econtrol) is set, a list of people editing the files. This column is only useful if your site uses "cvs watch" and/or "cvs edit".

You can move into a directory by double-clicking on it.

Double clicking on a file will load the file into a suitable editor so you can change it. A different editor can be used for different file types.

  File Status

When you are in a directory that is contained in the CVS repository, a file status will be shown by an icon next to each file. Checking the "Status Column" option causes the status to be displayed in text in its own column. The various statuses that can be shown are:

Up-to-date
    The file is up to date with respect to the repository.

Locally Modified
    The file has been modified in the current directory since being checked out of the repository.

Locally Added
    The file has been added to the repository. This file will become permanent in the repository once a commit is made.

Locally Removed
    You have removed the file with remove, and not yet committed your changes.

Needs Checkout
     Someone else has committed a newer revision to the repository. The name is slightly misleading; you will ordinarily use update rather than checkout to get that newer revision.

Needs Patch
    Like Needs Checkout, but the CVS server will send a patch rather than the entire file. Sending a patch or sending an entire file accomplishes the same thing.

Needs Merge
    Someone else has committed a newer revision to the repository, and you have also made modifications to the file.

Unresolved Conflict
    This is like Locally Modified, except that a previous update command gave a conflict. You need to resolve the conflict before checking in.

?   The file is not contained in the repository. You may need to add the file to the repository by pressing the "Add" button.

[directory:CVS]
    The file is a directory which has been checked out from the CVS repository.

[directory:RCS]
    The file is a directory which is maintained using RCS.

[directory:SCCS]
    The file is a directory which is maintained using SCCS.

[directory]
    The file is a directory.

  Editors Display

If the option cvscfg(econtrol) has been set then an extra column will appear in the current directory display labelled "editors". This gives the edit status of each of the files in the current directory so it can be easily seen who is currently editing the file. Refer to the CVS documentation for details of how to set up the repository for using the "cvs edit" feature using "cvs watch on", etc.

  File Filters

You can specify file matching patterns to instruct TkCVS which files you wish to see. You can also specify patterns telling it which files to remove when you press the "Clean" button or select the File->Cleanup menu item.

BUTTONS

The big button at the upper right opens the Module Browser.

Module Browse:
    Opens a Module Browser window. PUSH THIS BUTTON! The Module Browser is useful and will teach you all kinds of things about CVS.

There are a number of buttons at the bottom of the window. Pressing on one of these causes the following actions:

Edit:
    Press this button to load the selected files in to an appropriate editor.

Delete:
    Press this button to delete the selected files. The files will not be removed from the repository. To remove the files from the repository as well as delete them, press the "Remove" button instead.

Refresh:
    Press this button to re-read the current directory. You might want to do this immediately after a check-in or update, and also if you add new files to the directory.

Log (Branch) Browse:
    This button will bring up the log browser window for each of the selected files in the window. This window is described later.

Diff:
    This compares the selected files with the equivalent files in the repository. A separate program called "TkDiff" (also supplied with TkCVS) is used to do this. For more information on TkDiff, see TkDiff's help menu.

Add Files:
    Press this button when you want to add new files to the repository. You can do this when you have created a new file in the current directory. You must create the file before adding it to the repository. To add some files, first select them in the list above the buttons. Then press the Add Files button. The files that you have added to the repository will be committed next time you press the Check In button.

Remove:
    This button will remove files. To remove a file, first select the file in the list above the buttons. Then press the Remove button. The file will disappear from the directory and from the file list, and will be removed from the repository next time you press the Check In button.

Merge Conflict:
    If a file's status says "Needs Merge", "Conflict", or is marked with a "C" in CVS Check, there was a difference which CVS needs help to reconcile. This button invokes TkDiff with the -conflict option, opening a merge window to help you merge the differences.

Check In:
    This button commits your changes to the repository. This includes adding new files and removing deleted files. When you press this button, a dialog will appear asking you for the version number of the files you want to commit, and a comment. You need only enter a version number if you want to bring the files in the repository up to the next major version number. For example, if a file is version 1.10, and you do not enter a version number, it will be checked in as version 1.11. If you enter the version number 3, then it will be checked in as version 3.0 instead.

Update:
    This updates your sandbox directory with any changes committed to the repository by other developers.

Tag:
    This button will tag the selected files. The -F (force) option will move the tag if it already exists on the file. The -b (branch) option will create a new branch.

Set Edit Flag:
    This button sets the edit flag on the selected files, enabling other developers to see that you are currently editing those files (See "cvs edit" in the CVS documentation).

Reset Edit Flag:
    This button resets the edit flag on the selected files, enabling other developers to see that you are no longer editing those files (See "cvs edit" in the CVS documentation). As the current version of cvs waits on a prompt for "cvs unedit" if changes have been made to the file in question (to ask if you want to revert the changes to the current revision), the current action of tkcvs is to abort the unedit (by piping in nothing to stdin). Therefore, to lose the changes and revert to the current revision, it is necessary to delete the file and do an update (this will also clear the edit flag). To keep the changes, make a copy of the file, delete the original, update, and then move the saved copy back to the original filename.

Close:
    Press this button to close the Current Directory Browser. If the Module Browser is not open, TkCVS exits.

THE MODULE BROWSER

Most of the file related actions of TkCVS are performed within the main window. The module related actions of TkCVS are performed within the Module Browser. The Module Browser is displayed using the Module Browse button from the main window.

When the browser is displayed, it shows 2 columns. The first column is a tree showing the module codes and directory names of all of the items in the repository. The icon shows whether the item is a directory (which may contain other directories or modules), or whether it is a module (which may be checked out from TkCVS). It is possible for an item to be both a module and a directory. If it has a red ball on it, you can check it out. If it shows a plain folder icon, you have to open the folder to get to the items that you can check out.

To select a module, click on it with the left mouse button. Only one module can be selected at a time. To clear the selection, click on the item again or click in an empty area of the module column.

The second column shows descriptive titles of the items in the repository.

You can exit the Module Browser by pressing the Close button.

  Module Browser Menu

The Module Browser menus have the following options:

Reports

These create listings of the currently selected module, or, if none is selected, the whole repository. The report can be directed to the screen, a file, or a PostScript printer.

The Version Tree lists the head revision of the files in the module:

    VendorMerge Vendor merge example
        Vendor Vendor code used for testing Merge
            get 1.1.1.4
            getsort 1.1.1.1
            main 1.1.1.6
            sort 1.1.1.1
        Local Local code used for testing Merge
            get 1.1.1.1
            main 1.1.1.1

The Module Tree lists only the names and titles of the modules and directories:

    VendorMerge Vendor merge example
        Vendor Vendor code used for testing Merge
        Local Local code used for testing Merge

Checkouts
    The items on this menu run cvs history commands. They show which modules are checked out by whom.

Patch->Make Patch File
    This item creates a Larry Wall format patch(1) file in the current directory of the module selected. A tag name must be entered into the Tag A field of the Module Browser. If a second tag name is entered into the Tag B field, then the patch file will contain differences between the two tagged versions of the module. Otherwise the patch file will contain differences between the head version and the tagged version of the module.

Patch->View Patch Summary
    This item displays a short summary of the differences between two versions of a module. A tag name must be entered into the Tag A field of the Module Browser. If a second tag name is entered into the field, then the summary will list the changes between the two tagged versions of the module. Otherwise the summary will list differences between the head version and the tagged version of the module.

Tag See the section titled Tagging and Branching for more information on the options on this menu.

  Module Browser Buttons

The Module Browser contains the following buttons:

Who:
    Shows which modules are checked out by whom.

File Browse:
    Displays a list of the selected module's files.

Check Out:
    Checks out the current version of a module. If a tag name is entered into the Tag A field, then the tagged version is checked out rather than the head version.

Export:
    Exports the current version of a module. If a tag name is entered into the Tag A field, then the tagged version is exported rather than the head version. See the section titled Exporting for more information on exporting modules from the repository.

Tag:
    This button tags an entire module.

Branch Tag:
    This creates a branch of a module by giving it a branch tag.

Patch Summary:
    This item displays a short summary of the differences between two versions of a module. A tag name must be entered into the Tag A field of the Module Browser. If a second tag name is entered into the field, then the summary will list the changes between the two tagged versions of the module. Otherwise the summary will list differences between the head version and the tagged version of the module.

Create Patch File:
    This item creates a Larry Wall format patch(1) file in the current directory of the module selected. A tag name must be entered into the Tag A field of the Module Browser. If a second tag name is entered into the Tag B field, then the patch file will contain differences between the two tagged versions of the module. Otherwise the patch file will contain differences between the head version and the tagged version of the module.

Import:
    This item will import the contents of the current directory (the one shown in the Current Directory Display) into the repository as a module. See the section titled Importing for more information.

Close:
    This button closes the Module Browser. If the Current Directory Browser is not open TkCVS exits.

THE FILE BROWSER

Pressing the File Browse button in the Module Browser window displays the TkCVS file browser. This window shows a list of each file contained in the selected module. The buttons are:

View:
    This displays a window showing the contents of the file. The file may be viewed but not edited using this window. (To edit a file in the repository, you must check the file out of the repository). If a tag name or version number is entered into the Version / Tag field at the top of the window, the specified version of the file is displayed, and not the head version.

Log (Branch):
    This displays the log browser window for the file.

Tags:
    Lists the file's tags.

Close:
    This button closes the file browser.

THE LOG BROWSER

The TkCVS Log Browser window enables you to view a graphical display of the revision log of a file, including all previous versions, and any branched versions.

You can get to the log browser window in two ways, either by selecting a file within the main window of TkCVS and pressing the Log Browse button, or by selecting a file in the file browser window (available from within the Module Browser) and pressing the Log Browse button.

The two forms of the log browser are slightly different. From within the main window it is possible to perform merge operations on a file, and the results of the merge are stored in the current directory. From within the Module Browser (working directly within the repository) merge operations are not possible.

  Log Browser Window

The log browser window has three components. These are the file name and version information section at the top, the log display in the middle, and a row of buttons along the bottom.

  Log Display

The main log display is fairly self explanatory. It shows a group of boxes connected by small lines indicating the main trunk of the file development (on the left hand side) and any branches that the file has (which spread out to the right of the main trunk).

Each box contains the version number and author of the version.

  Version Numbers

Once a file is loaded into the log browser, up to two version numbers may be selected. The primary version is selected by clicking the left mouse button on a version box in the main log display.

The secondary version (Version B) is selected by clicking the right mouse button on a version box in the main log display.

Operations such as "View" and "Merge Branch to Head" always operate only on the primary version selected.

Operations such as "Diff" and "Merge Changes to Head" require two versions to be selected.

  Log Browser Buttons

The log browser contains the following buttons:

View:
    Pressing this button displays a window containing the primary version of the file selected.

Diff:
    Pressing this button runs the "tkdiff" program (by John Klassa) to display the differences between version A and version B.

Merge Branch to Head:
    To use this button, first select a branch version of the file as the primary version. The changes made along the branch up to that version will then be merged into the head version, and stored in the current directory. The version of the file in the current directory will be over-written.

Merge Changes to Head:
    To use this button, first select two versions anywhere in the file log (although two adjacent branch versions are more commonly selected). It is expected that in most cases version B will be later than version A. CVS will then calculate the changes made between the two versions selected and merge the differences to the head version. Note that if version A is later (higher on the trunk or further along the branch) than version B, a "reverse diff" will be created. This will have the effect of removing the changes from the head version. For example, if the head version is 1.6, version A is 1.5, and version B is 1.3, this button will remove all of the changes made between versions 1.3 and 1.5 from the head version. It may not make sense to select two branch versions on different branches for this function.

View Tags:
    This button displays a window showing the tags contained in the file.

Close:
    This button closes the Log Browser.

CONFIGURATION FILES

There are two configuration files for TkCVS. The first is stored in the directory in which the *.tcl files for TkCVS are installed. This is called tkcvs_def.tcl. You can put a file called site_def in that directory, too. That's a good place for site-specific things like tagcolours. Unlike tkcvs_def.tcl, it will not be overwritten when you install a newer version of TkCVS.

Values in the site configuration files can be over-ridden at the user level by placing a .tkcvs file in your home directory. Commands in either of these files should be Tcl scripts. In other words, to set a variable name, you should have the following command in your .tkcvs file:

        set variable-name value

for example:

        set cvscfg(papersize) A4

The following variables are supported by TkCVS:

  Startup

cvscfg(startwindow)
    Which window you want to see on startup. (workdir or module)

cvscfg(cvsroot)
    If set, it overrides the CVSROOT environment variable.

  GUI

Most colors and fonts can be customized by using the options database. For example, you can add lines like these to your .tkcvs file:

       option add *Canvas.background #c3c3c3
       option add *Menu.background #c3c3c3
       option add *selectColor #ffec8b
       option add *Text.background gray92
       option add *Entry.background gray92
       option add *Listbox.background gray92
       option add *ToolTip.background LightGoldenrod1
       option add *ToolTip.foreground black

  Log browser

cvscfg(colourA) cvscfg(colourB)
    Hilight colours for revision-log boxes

cvscfg(tagdepth)
    Number of tags you want to see for each revision on the branching diagram before it says "more..." and offers a popup to show the rest

cvscfg(tagcolour,tagstring)
    Colors for marking tags. For example "set cvscfg(tagcolour,tkcvs_r6) Purple"

  Module browser

cvscfg(aliasfolder)
    In the Module Browser, if true this will cause the alias modules to be grouped in one folder. Cleans up clutter if there are a lot of aliases.

  User preferences

cvscfg(allfiles)
    Set this to 0 to see normal files only in the directory browser, set it to 1 to see all files including hidden files.

cvscfg(auto_status)
    Set the default for automatic statusing of a CVS controlled directory. Automatic updates are done when a directory is entered and after some operations.

cvscfg(checkrecursive)
    Report Check recursively (onvalue {}, offvalue -l)

cvscfg(confirm_prompt)
    Ask for confirmation before performing an operation(true or false)

cvscfg(econtrol)
    Set this to 1 to turn on an extra column in the directory browser showing the current editors of each file. Set to 0 to turn off this feature.

cvscfg(editor)
    Preferred default editor

cvscfg(editors)
    String pairs giving the editor-command and string-match-pattern, for deciding which editor to use

cvscfg(editorargs)
    Command-line arguments to send to the default editing program.

cvscfg(ldetail)
    Detail level for status reports (latest, summary, verbose)

cvscfg(rdetail)
    Detail for repository and workdir reports (terse, summary, verbose)

cvscfg(recurse)
    Whether reports are recursive (true or false)

  File filters

cvscfg(file_filter)
    Pattern for which files to list. Empty string is equivalent to the entire directory (minus hidden files)

cvscfg(ignore_file_filter)
    Pattern used in the workdir listbox filter for files to be ignored

cvscfg(clean_these)
    Pattern to be used for cleaning a directory (removing unwanted files)

  System

cvscfg(print_cmd)
    System command used for printing. lpr, enscript -Ghr, etc)

cvscfg(shell)
    What you want to happen when you ask for a shell

  Portability

cvscfg(aster)
    File mask for all files (* for Unix, *.* for windows)

cvscfg(null)
    The null device. /dev/null for Unix, nul for windows

cvscfg(tkdiff)
    How to start tkdiff. Example sh /usr/local/bin/tkdiff

cvscfg(tmpdir)
    Directory in which to do behind-the-scenes checkouts. Usually /tmp or /var/tmp)

  Printed reports

cvscfg(papersize)
    Paper size for PostScript reports. A4 for international, 8x11 for US)

cvscfg(pointsize)
    Point size for body of PostScript reports

cvscfg(headingsize)
    Point size to use for heading text in PostScript reports

cvscfg(subheadingsize)
    Point size for subheadings in PostScript reports

  Debugging

cvscfg(log_classes)
    For debugging: C=CVS commands, F=File creation/deletion, T=Function entry/exit tracing, D=Debugging

cvscfg(logging)
    Logging (debugging) on or off

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

You should have the CVSROOT environment variable pointing to the location of your CVS repository before you run TkCVS. It will still allow you to work with different repositories within the same session.

USER CONFIGURABLE MENU EXTENSIONS

It is possible to extend the TkCVS menu by inserting additional commands into the .tkcvs or tkcvs_def.tcl files. These extensions appear on an extra menu to the right of the TkCVS Options menu.

To create new menu entries on the user-defined menu, set the following variables:

  cvsmenu(command)

Setting a variable with this name to a value like "commandname" causes the CVS command "cvs commandname" to be run when this menu option is selected. For example, the following line:

        set cvsmenu(update_A) "update -A"

Causes a new menu option titled "update_A" to be added to the user defined menu that will run the command "cvs update -A" on the selected files when it is activated.

(This example command, for versions of CVS later than 1.3, will force an update to the head version of a file, ignoring any sticky tags or versions attached to the file).

  usermenu(command)

Setting a variable with this name to a value like "commandname" causes the command "commandname" to be run when this menu option is selected. For example, the following line:

        set usermenu(view) "cat"

Causes a new menu option titled "view" to be added to the User defined menu that will run the command "cat" on the selected files when it is activated.

Any user-defined commands will be passed a list of file names corresponding to the files selected on the directory listing on the main menu as arguments.

The output of the user defined commands will be displayed in a window when the command is finished.

CVS modules FILE

If you haven't put anything in your CVSROOT/modules file, do so. See the "Administrative Files" section of the CVS manual. Then, you can add comments which TkCVS can use to title the modules and to display them in a tree structure.

The simplest use of TkCVS's "#D" directive is to display a meaningful title for the module:

    #D softproj Software Development Projects
    softproj softproj

A fancier use is to organize the modules into a tree which will mimic their directory nesting in the repository when they appear in the module browser. For example, suppose we have a directory called "chocolate" which is organized like this:

    chocolate/
        truffle/
            cocoa3/
                biter/
                sniffer/
                snuffler/

To display its hierarchy, as well as make the deepest directories more accessible by giving them module names, we could put this in the modules file:

    #D    chocolate    Top Chocolate
    #D    chocolate/truffle    Cocoa Level 2
    #D    chocolate/truffle/cocoa3    Cocoa Level 3
    #D    sniffer    Chocolate Sniffer
    sniffer    chocolate/truffle/cocoa3/sniffer
    #D    snuff    Chocolate Snuffler
    snuff    chocolate/truffle/cocoa3/snuffler
    #D    biter    Chocolate Biter
    biter    chocolate/truffle/cocoa3/biter

When you are installing TkCVS, you may like to add these additional lines to the modules file (remember to check out the modules module from the repository, and then commit it again when you have finished the edits).

These extension lines commence with a "#" character, so CVS interprets them as comments. They can be safely left in the file whether you are using TkCVS or not.

"#M" is equivalent to "#D". The two had different functions in previous versions of TkCVS, but now both are parsed the same way.

SEE ALSO
cvs(1)

AUTHOR
Del (del@babel.babel.com.au)