6.3 Accessing Elements Not Loaded into a Snapshot View

While working with source files in a snapshot view, you may need to see the contents of elements that are not loaded into the view or see ClearCase information about these nonloaded elements. For example, you may have chosen not to load a VOB that contains functional-specification documents. However, you may want to check periodically whether the functional specifications have been modified by reviewing the element's ClearCase history.

Listing All Elements in the VOB Namespace

You can set up ClearCase Explorer to provide a directory listing of nonloaded file and directory elements. ClearCase Explorer displays the version of the element that would be selected if the element were loaded in the view. The Version column in the Details pane indicates which version the view is selecting. Then, you can display the nonloaded element's history, version tree, and properties sheet, and compare versions of the element.

To See Nonloaded Elements from ClearCase Explorer

1. In ClearCase Explorer, click Tools > Options.

2. In the Options dialog box, under Snapshot View Options, select Show Unloaded Snapshot View Elements.

3. Click OK.

The Details pane uses an icon and the State column to indicate which versions are not loaded.

To See Metadata for Nonloaded Versions

Metadata is information that ClearCase keeps about elements under source control. To see metadata for a nonloaded version, click the version in the Details pane and select commands from the Tools menu.

Viewing the Contents of a Nonloaded Version

To see the contents of a nonloaded version, you can do either of the following:

• Use the Send To command from the version's shortcut menu in the Version Tree Browser. The Send To command uses the set of shortcuts in your Send To folder, which is a function that the Windows operating system provides. For information about your Send To folder, see Windows online help.

• Copy the version into your view with the cleartool get command.

You can view nonloaded files or copy them into your view for build purposes, but you cannot check them out. Only file elements that are loaded into the view can be checked out.

NOTE: You cannot use the Send To command or cleartool get for directory elements.

To Copy a Nonloaded Version with cleartool get

1. In the ClearCase Explorer Details pane, in the Version column, note the version-extended pathname of the unloaded element, which is displayed in the Version column.

2. Right-click the parent directory and from the shortcut menu, click Command Prompt to display a cleartool prompt.

3. Type the cleartool get command using the following syntax:

get -to filename version-extended-pathname

For example:

cleartool get -to prog.c.previous.version prog.c@@\main\v3.1_fix\10

This command copies prog.c@@\main\v3.1_fix\10 into your view under the name of prog.c.previous.version.