Automatic Check Out During a Save Operation

Rational Software recommends that you check files out of Rational ClearCase before editing. However, if you edit a file within WebSphere Studio that is under ClearCase control but is not checked out, the WebSphere Studio editors will silently check the file out of ClearCase automatically when you perform a File > Save operation. The automatic check out process is necessary to accomplish WebSphere operations such as refactoring.  Note that you cannot change the activity that is associated with the file during the automatic checkout. To change the activity associated with a file, you must explicitly check the file out of ClearCase.

Warning: If you are using a shared branch within a dynamic view, the automatic check out process could create a potential problem. While you are editing a file that is not checked out, another project team member could check out, edit, and check in the same file before you attempt to save it. When you save the file, the automatic check out procedure will silently check out the latest version of it and when you check the file back in, your changes will overwrite the previous changes made by another project team member and you may not know it. Therefore, if you are using a shared branch within a dynamic view, you must check out files before editing them.


Check Files In and Out of ClearCase

Select Activity