Because directories and files are under Rational® 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 (UNIX®)
or \gui_vob\design\src (Windows®) contains an element named prog.c.
If you remove prog.c from the design/src (UNIX)
or design\src (Windows) directory, version 5 of /gui_vob/design/src (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 IBM Rational ClearCase Command Reference.
- For more information on removing an element from a VOB,
see the rmelem reference page in the IBM Rational ClearCase Command Reference.