Re: Migrating from VSS

[Kaz Kylheku]

Murali Potla <address@hidden> wrote in message news:<address@hidden>...
> Hi there, 
> 
> I am migrating a repository from vss to cvs.
> 
> But the important feature that i should provide is file locking when
> some one is editing it so that atleast others will not be able to edit
> it. And all of the files are binary files (microsoft word document). How
> to handle it.
> Is there any good way. 

There is a mechanism in CVS which promotes communication among the
users, so that they become aware of situations when two of them want
to edit the same file, with the help of electronic mail notifications.
This is implemented by the commands cvs commands edit and editors.

This is not strict locking; it requires user cooperation. Firstly, a
user has to use the watch add command to request to be notified about
actions, such as someone's intent to edit (which that user indicates
using cvs edit). Secondly, the user has to pay attention to the e-mail
notifications and/or look at the list of editors to discover who else
may be wishing to edit a file. There can be more than one user ID in
the list of editors; it's not exclusive!

Also, a special watch mode can be turned on for a file to help enforce
the protocol, using ``cvs watch on''. This marks a file such that when
it is checked out, the working copy is read-only. This reminds the
user to use ``cvs edit'', which will make the working copy read-write.
But this can be defeated by manually changing the permissions.