Creating mainline branches

A mainline branch is the highest-level branch that contains all source files, other branches, and repositories. You cannot search, branch, promote, or rebase across mainline branches. Take the time to decide on your company’s use of mainline branches. Some companies may need only one mainline branch while other companies may have multiple mainline branches.

1. Choose Tools > Administration > Create Mainline Branch.

The Create Mainline Branch dialog box opens.

2. Enter the Mainline name.

3. Enter any Comments, such as the purpose of the mainline branch.

4. Select the Location to create the mainline branch.

Each mainline branch is stored in its own database. Mainline databases are stored in an RDBMS database. The list includes RDBMS connections configured for the Surround SCM Server. Select the connection for the database to store the mainline branch in. See Adding RDBMS connections if you need to add an RDBMS connection.

5. Optionally select Allow case-sensitive file and repository names to use case-sensitive names for all repositories and files in the new mainline branch.

Select this option only if all users access the mainline branch using the Linux Surround SCM Client. You are prompted to confirm using case-sensitive file and repository names.

Enabling this option may cause problems if users access the mainline branch using the Windows or Mac Surround SCM Client. For example, Linux recognizes TEST.TXT and Test.txt as different files. Windows and Mac recognize these as the same file and do not allow the files to be saved in the same directory. When users get the files to a working directory, only one of the files can be retrieved.

6. Click OK.

You are prompted to confirm creating the mainline branch.

7. Click Yes.

The mainline branch is created. See Branching.