Step 4: Start versioning files | End users

You are now ready to start versioning files with P4. You can add new files to your workspace and then submit them to P4 and edit files that are already version controlled in P4.

To submit new or changed files to P4 Server, you use a changelist. A changelist defines a logical grouping of work across a set of files and folders. Files and folders that are not yet committed to P4 Server or are checked out for editing are pending changelists. After a pending changelist is submitted to P4 Server, it is a submitted changelist.

Add files to a workspace and submit them to P4

If you are working on new files that need to be version controlled, add them to your workspace on your computer and then submit them to P4 Server to share them with others.

1. Add files to the workspace folder on your computer.

2. In P4V, choose View > Workspace Tree.

   The workspace tree shows files and folders in your workspace.

3. Select Refresh on the toolbar to see the files you added in the workspace tree.

4. In the workspace tree, select the files or folders to add to P4 Server and select Add on the toolbar to add them to a default changelist.

5. To see your pending changelists, choose View > Pending Changelists. In the Pending tab on the right pane, you will see the default changelist. Expand the changelist to view the list of files.

6. Select the pending changelist and select Submit on the toolbar.

7. Enter a changelist description so you and your team can see what each person did and which tasks are complete.

8. Select Submit.

   The files are uploaded and added to P4 Server, and are now version controlled.

Edit version-controlled files

To work with files that are already version controlled by P4 Server, check them out, make changes, and then submit them back to the server.

1. In P4V, to download the latest versions of files from P4 Server, select the folder or files to work with in the workspace tree and select Get Latest on the toolbar.

2. In the workspace tree, select the files to edit.

3. Select Checkout on the toolbar. This makes the files writable and adds them to a pending changelist, as you did when you added files to P4. It also prevents other team members from checking out the files.

4. When your changes are complete and saved, select the pending changelist and select Submit on the toolbar.

5. Enter a changelist description and select Submit to submit the changelist to P4.

   The changed files are uploaded to P4 Server.

View dashboard

The dashboard in P4V shows details about your workspace. For example, you can see if there are files you have not submitted or when other team members submit files so you can get them to your workspace. The dashboard is refreshed every five minutes or you can refresh it on demand.

To view the dashboard, choose View > Dashboard.

Learn more

• Video: Submitting, Syncing, and Managing File Changes

• P4V User Guide topics:

  • Managing files

  • Working with streams

  • Resolving files

  • Configuring P4V

Where to go next

Optional: Next, you can install other P4 tools to version files.

Go to Step 5: Optional - Install other tools | End users.