Version control retrieve

[deefer]

Hi
I've taken a look at the VC questions in the forum but I couldn't get an answer to this question.
We plan to work with a shared eap file and to apply VC with subversion
Question:
How to retrieve a previously checked-in package and to mantain the retreived version? (when I check out the package, the lates version is automatically retrieved)

Thank you!!
Davide

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Hi Davide,

If I understand you correctly, you want to retrieve a prior version of the package, and OVERWRITE the current version (in the EAP file).

I don't think you can do this via direct VC (ie the Controlled package has the Version Control: field set to other than (None)).  Caveat: I don't have much experience with direct VC.  I prefer to use off-line VC.

You will need to do this via off-line VC.  That is, extract the previous version of the package to an XMI file on the disk then import that over the top of the existing package.

HTH,
Paolo

[deefer]

Thanks Paolo, that's what I meant...

Unfortunately I couldn't complete successfully your offline VC method...
I've done as follow:
1) check out the new version of the package in the model
2) import the previous package version xml file; I can see it in the model but the locked symbol appears in the package icon
3)the package now looks "stuck": I cannot check it out because ea says it is already checked out, and I cannot check it in because the menu option is disabled.

Note that if I perform the "Get latest" command, forcing the reload of the xmi file, the package turns back to the "new" version.

Thanks
Davide

[Paolo F Cantoni]

You need to disable VC on the package before you import (as you are "getting around" VC).  Once you've got the package in, reactivate VC.

HTH,
Paolo

[deefer]

oops...
thanks..
but in this way I loose the whole history of the package, right?

[deefer]

ok actually I've managed to do it without loosing the history...
anyway the whole procedure is quite complicated, expecially if you had sub-packages under the package to be retrieved...

thank you again

[Paolo F Cantoni]

OK actually I've managed to do it without loosing the history...
anyway the whole procedure is quite complicated, especially if you had sub-packages under the package to be retrieved...

thank you again

Hi Davide,

If my directions above weren't enough to do the job, can you please post your process (for the benefit of others - including me...  ?

As regards complexity, I believe it is necessarily complex - to do what you are trying to do...

The problem with version / source control for models (especially for techo or "pointy head" types - like me) is that it is seductively like version / source control for code.  But there are distinct differences and these need to be understood.

As I said, previously, I prefer off-line VC.  But that's just because I haven't done a lot of direct VC.  Off-line VC affords me more control although requires more manual management.

By the way, I checked the Help and I came across the Package Control | File History menu option.  In that dialog, you can retrieve previous versions.  Of course, being EAUI it was immediately obvious that that was where you should go looking...  

Did you try that?

Paolo

[deefer]

Hi Paolo
your suggestions were quite complete.. thanks.
The important thing is to disable the versioning of the package before importing the old one, otherwise the package.xml file gets locked and you have to unlock it manually (i.e. with tortoisesvn)
After importing the old version, it automatically gets versioned.

Concerning versioning in general, I'd expect a behavior similar to the files/directories one, so that I'd like to retrieve previous versions, branch, export etc... otherwise I wouldn't call it "version control" but "package history" or something like that...

The retrieve help page states "The package is retrieved in read only mode, enabling you to view the history of the package at the specified version"

If you retrieve it, that it happens what I stated in my first message (the newest version overwrites the retreived one).

Many thanks
Davide

[ChrisBD]

What Version Control are you using?
Are you using .EAP or RDBMS based model?

[deefer]

Version 7.5 build 850 and a shared eap file
D.