Checking files out of a repository

Comparable terms

Checking out a file from the repository pulls the current repository version into your workspace. This keeps your workspace version up to date.

In some cases, checking a file out also means acquiring write access. Special privileges may be needed to use the command.

This command is available from the Team menu for the file that's active in the content pane, and from the context menu in the project pane for all selected files.

This feature uses dialog boxes in the CVS and Visual SourceSafe integrations.

CVS

This updates the selected files. Updating files retrieves changes from the repository and applies them to the files in your workspace.

When CVS updates, it automatically performs a merge, that is, it combines repository changes with your workspace changes. This synchronizes your workspace with the repository. All changes are preserved. If there are textual conflicts, they are flagged to be reconciled by the user.

Note that CVS only recognizes textual conflicts, not logical ones. A merge conflict happens when different users make changes to the same physical parts of the file. Updating frequently reduces the possible number of merge conflicts.

To learn how to reconcile merge conflicts, see the "CVS Update (Merge) File" topic in "Team development using JBuilder."

Visual SourceSafe

Checking out a file in Visual SourceSafe updates your work area with the latest version from the database and grants you write access until you check it in again. If somebody else has the file checked out, you can't write to it in your work area. You must have Check Out access to use this command.

  1. Select the Check Out File command from the Team menu or the context menu. The Check Out File dialog box appears.
  2. Click OK to check the file out.
  3. Click OK in the confirmation dialog box to return to the IDE.