Before moving and removing elements

Because directories and files are under DevOps Code ClearCase® control, you can move or remove elements from specific versions of directories without affecting the element itself. Moving or removing elements creates new versions of the parent directories to record the modifications.

For example, version 4 of /gui_vob/design/src (Linux or UNIX) or \gui_vob\design\src (Windows®) contains an element named prog.c. If you remove prog.c from the design/src (Linux or UNIX) or design\src (Windows) directory, version 5 of /gui_vob/design/src (Linux or UNIX) or \gui_vob\design\src (Windows), which does not contain the prog.c file element, is created. The element prog.c itself remains unmodified.

Before you move or remove an element name from a directory, verify with your project manager that your changes will not adversely affect other team members or break projectwide builds. Keep the following points in mind:

  • Removing the name of an element or a VOB symbolic link does not delete the element or the link itself, only references to the element or link.
  • Removing the last reference to an element name causes the element to be orphaned. Such elements are moved to the VOB lost+found directory.
  • Removing the last reference to a VOB symbolic link works differently, depending on whether the VOB is replicated:
    • If the VOB is unreplicated, the link object is deleted.
    • If the VOB is replicated, the link object is moved to the VOB lost+found directory.

Other methods for removing elements

Removing an element from its parent directory does not affect the element itself. However, there are two other types of removal operations that do irrevocably affect an element; proceed with caution when using these operations:

  • For more information on removing a version from the version tree of an element, see the rmver reference page in the DevOps Code ClearCase Command Reference.
  • For more information on removing an element from a VOB, see the rmelem reference page in the DevOps Code ClearCase Command Reference.