Checkout over existing folder w/File Externals: Error node exists

[marz...@gmail.com]

In upgrading from 1.9.x to the latest nightly build (1.11 dec 13), we found a difference in the way Checkout over existing folder operates.

In the past, when you checkout over an existing unrevisioned folder, it prompts "folder not empty, are you sure?). Upon selecting yes, it proceeds to checkout. Any files that already exist with the same name and are different are marked as "MODIFIED". This is what we expect to happen. Using a subsequent "revert to revision" would bring these modified files to the checkout revision if so desired.

In v1.11, if a file already exists in the checkout path, and that file is an "svn external", you will get "Error The file external X can not be created because the node exists". We only get node errors for files that are svn external.

[Stefan]

Yes, that's by design. A file external is a simple "link". For a file external, there is no base file to which to compare it to, so there's no way (without contacting the repository) to know whether an external is modified or not.

That's why you get an error - it's not possible to restore an overwritten external file.

 

[marz...@gmail.com]

Since our file externals point to HEAD revision, I guess In 1.9.X, it used to allow this operation and use the HEAD as a base of comparison for these file externals. We have a workaround for what we are doing, I just wanted to point out the difference in event someone else had difficulty here. Thanks for your explanation and quick response!