Getting files

Get files when you want to view a file but do not need to make any changes. A read-only copy of the file is created in the specified directory.

After you get a file, the local copy does not stay in sync with the file in Surround SCM. For example, if you get a copy of a file on Monday and another developer changes it on Wednesday, the server copy and local copy are out of sync. You have to get the file again for updates.

1. Select the files or repository and choose Activities > Get.

The Get Files dialog box opens.

2. Select the Location to retrieve the files to.

The working directory is the default location. Click Browse to select a different directory.

3. Select Recursive to include all child repositories.

Files in the selected repository and any child repositories are copied to the working directory.

4. Expand and select any additional check out options.

Select options for retrieving files based on version, timestamp, label, or workflow state.

  • Latest version gets the latest version. 
  • Timestamp gets files based on the selected date and time.
  • Label gets files based on the selected label. Click Select to search for a label. See Selecting labels.
  • Latest version in state gets the latest version based on the selected workflow state.
  • Optionally select Include removed files when you get files based on timestamp, label, or the latest version in a state. You may want to include removed files to ensure you have a complete set of files.
  • Optionally select Get with historical filename when you get files based on timestamp or label. Selecting this option gets files with the filename they had when the selected label was applied or at the selected timestamp. If the working directory you are retrieving files to has a copy of the same file with the current name, the file with the historical name replaces it.

Select advanced options to get writable files, force file retrieval from the server, enable auto-merges, specify a file overwrite option, and set the timestamp on local files retrieved from the server.

  • Make files writable gets the files in read-write mode.
  • Force file retrieval from server gets the current version of the file. Surround SCM checks the local copy to determine if the file is current. Select this option to retrieve a new copy of the file even if the local copy is current.
  • Merge should first attempt auto-merge to enable auto-merges. You are only prompted to manually merge files if auto-merge fails.
  • Overwrite option specifies what to do if the local file and server file are different, or how to handle modified files in the working directory that were removed from the server. Prompt prompts you to replace the file, skip the file, or merge the server and local files. If you merge the files, the get operation finishes after the files are reviewed and merged. If you get a repository to the working directory, this option prompts you to delete or skip the file. Replace automatically overwrites the local file with the server file or deletes the local file if it was removed from the server. Skip skips the file.
  • File timestamp sets the timestamp on the local files when they are retrieved from Surround SCM. Current sets the timestamp to the current date and time. Modified sets the timestamp to the date and time the files were last modified. Check in sets the timestamp to the date and time the files were last checked in.

5. Click OK to get the files.

The files are copied to the specified directory.

If the local directory does not exist, you are prompted to create it. See Creating local directories.