Merging Versions of a Directory

Merge can merge changes made to a directory (folder) element in two different contributor versions.

Basic Merge Algorithm

The basic procedure for handling changes in a merge operation is the same for all elements, including directory elements:

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At the time of the merge, one contributor is located in a workspace, where the new version will be created); the other contributor is the version in the workspace's backing stream or some other dynamic stream. (You might have specified this second version as part of a particular transaction or change package.)

•	If just one contributor makes a change from the contributors' closest common ancestor, AccuRev incorporates the change into the new, merged version automatically.

•	If both contributors make a change from the contributors' closest common ancestor, AccuRev regards this as a conflict, which you must resolve during the merge process.

For a more detailed discussion, in the context of changes to the contents of a text file, see Handling Change Sections.

What Constitutes a Change to a Directory?

Given that the algorithm for handling changes is basically the same for all elements, the only thing special about merging versions of a directory is the nature of changes to a directory element.

•	AccuRev tracks only namespace changes to a directory:

•	Initial creation of the directory.

•	Renaming the directory.

•	Moving the directory to another location in the depot's directory tree.

Each of the above changes creates a new version of the directory element.

•	AccuRev does not track changes to the contents of a directory. For example:

•	Adding a new element to a directory or renaming one of its elements not a change to the directory -- it's a change to that particular element.

•	Similarly, removing (with Defunct) an element from a directory is not a change to the directory -- it is a change to that particular element.

Each of the above changes creates a new version of the element within the directory, but does not affect the directory element itself.

Directory Merge Procedure

Since AccuRev tracks only namespace changes to a directory, not content changes, execution of the Merge command on a directory element never involves the Merge tool (or third-party tool). A conflict at the namespace-level merge involves making choices in the same one or two dialogs used for all kinds of elements.