Does Subversion keeps file history after move or rename?

[repkin]

Hi all!
A very simple question.
Is it possible to make Subversion keep file history after move or rename?

I've played around with a sample repository. And it appeared that the history got lost after the file was renamed or moved to another folder. I was using TortoiseSVN "Rename" and "Move versioned file" commands.
After the operation completes, the log file contains only one message about file addition.

I extensively use code refactoring in my project, which is all about moves and renames.
It is very disappointing to lose vital history information because of a file name or location changed.

Pasha

[pan69]

Hi,

I'm not quite sure what you mean by loosing history. If a file named A exists in revision 1 of the repository and you rename the file to B then file B exists in revision 2 of the repository, but file A still exists in revision 1 of the repository.

[repkin]

Hi!

Yes you are right, from the technical point of view A and B are two different files. But for me personally it is the same file. For me it looks very convenient to consider the rename as a regular file change. Just like contents modification.

I use Star Team at work. It copes with this issue pretty well.
I can easily track back file modifications to the date of creation no matter was the file renamed or moved. This is the feature I want from Subversion.

Thanks for the answer!

[lmop]

I'm not sure what's going on with your test as Subversion does track history through file moves/renames/copies (I've just (re)confirmed that to myself using the command-line client). However, it must be done via an svn move, its synonym svn rename or svn copy. A simultaneous svn add and svn delete will break the history path. (Note that svn status' output is a little ambiguous for files so a svn move looks exactly how a svn add/delete would.)

[mike5]

Plus, "atomic renames" are "right arounf the corner".

Cheers, Mike5

[repkin]

lmop, mike5, thanks somuch!
Looks like this is a TortoiseSVN client problem...

[andyl]

lmop, mike5, thanks somuch!
Looks like this is a TortoiseSVN client problem...

TSVN should handle it just fine as well. You're likely just missing a checkbox in the log dialog somewhere.

[repkin]

Much thanks, however I'm still stuck.
I have done the following simple experiment with Tortoise SVN to check whether the thing works.
I have a file a.txt and a folder F.
Both are located at the same level of folder hierarchy and are synchronized to Subversion.
Then I move a.txt to F, using TortoiseSVN command "SVN move versioned files here".
Next I look up the log for a.txt.
There is actually a special checkbox named "Hide unrelated changed paths". I uncheck it.
And then I see the following lines in the bottom table:
Added /trunk/F/a.txt
Deleted /trunk/a.txt

Ok, now I want to look at the history for /trunk/a.txt.
So I select /trunk/a.txt and choose "Show log" from the popup menu.
And then I see the error message box that informs me that the file /trunk/a.txt was not found.
This is how the story ends.
I wasn't able to look at the history.

Is it possible that my TortoiseSVN base is broken?

[andyl]

That sounds right to me. If you're looking at the HEAD revision or your uncommitted working copy, there is no file trunk/a.txt anymore (because its /trunk/F/a.txt), and you can't view a log for something that doesn't exist at the revision you're looking at.

Try getting the log of F/a.txt

[repkin]

The log for /trunk/F/a.txt is poor it just contains a single record which tells that the file was removed and then added. However I wnat to see all the contents changes that were performed before the file was moved.

Thanks, anyway.

[andyl]

The log for /trunk/F/a.txt is poor it just contains a single record which tells that the file was removed and then added. However I wnat to see all the contents changes that were performed before the file was moved.

Disable "stop on copy" and you'll get the full log.

Subversion keeps full history of a file when it's moved, you're just not looking for it properly.

[repkin]

Thank you so much, andyl, it works!! What a fool I am, it was so obvious. Sorry