If you've named a branch in CVS incorrectly, or the name originally chosen becomes inappropriate, how do you change it to something else?
A related question is How do you rename a branch in CVS without admin access?.
Answer
The trick to this is using one of CVSs' more obscure admin commands, -N. It is a two stage process, effectively copy then remove.
Firstly, you create a branch with the correct name that references the original branch name. Secondly, you delete the original branch name.
Assume you have a file "File.txt" that is currently branched "bad_branch". You'd like the branch to be called - can you guess? - "good_branch".
kwutchak% cvs log File.txt
RCS file: .../data/File.txt,v
head: 1.1
branch:
symbolic names:
bad_branch: 1.1.0.2
To create the new branch reference:
cvs admin -N good_branch:bad_branch File.txt
kwutchak% cvs log File.txt
RCS file: .../data/File.txt,v
Working file: File.txt
head: 1.1
branch:
symbolic names:
good_branch: 1.1.0.2
bad_branch: 1.1.0.2
To delete the original reference:
cvs admin -N bad_branch File.txt
kwutchak% cvs log File.txt
RCS file: .../data/File.txt,v
Working file: File.txt
head: 1.1
branch:
symbolic names:
good_branch: 1.1.0.2