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List:       lyx-users
Subject:    Re: Version Control vs. Change Tracking
From:       Todd Denniston <Todd.Denniston () ssa ! crane ! navy ! mil>
Date:       2006-11-27 15:28:21
Message-ID: 456B0415.8060107 () ssa ! crane ! navy ! mil
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John McCabe-Dansted wrote:
> On 11/21/06, Todd Denniston <Todd.Denniston@ssa.crane.navy.mil> wrote:
>> LyX will use use at least RCS & CVS as version control back-ends, CVS 
>> can be
>> used from other systems connecting to a master repository system.
> 
> How do you use CVS as a back-end to the LyX-GUI? 

Assuming you are editing a LyX file in a CVS sandbox directory, and LyX 
Version 1.4.3, on a machine with CVS working.

A) create the file. (open LyX, and put some text in your document.)
B) select "File".
C) select "Version Control".
D) select "Register...".

...Later...
E) you've done some more edits.
F) select File->Version Control->Check In Changes
G) enter commit message
H) press OK.

> I know you can use
> pretty much any VC system you want, but I can't see how to access it
> from within the LyX-GUI. I have read many of the CVS manuals and SVN
> manuals but I wouldn't think they would discuss how they can be
> accessed from the LyX-GUI.

In a LyX editor go to:
Help->Extended Features
It has a whole section (6.3) on RCS. Again, it is out of date (not wrong, just 
out of date) because CVS works too, and through the same user interface as RCS.

> 
> Also my experience with SVN and CVS is that they give obscure errors
> if you do stuff like move directories around without using the svnmove
> command etc. 

Um, removing directories (or files) without fully informing the version 
control system is a REALLY BAD IDEA in any case, be thankful you got an error 
message at all.

> I guess if all the authors have friendly tech support
> staff available to set up the SVN server and fix the obsure errors for
> them, SVN would be the best bet for keeping all the versions in sync.

except svn currently does not have any integration with LyX's VC menu. however 
if you are familiar with working with svn on the command line and remember to 
refresh the LyX buffer after VC operations, it should work fine.

> You could layer change tracking on top of that for reviewing changes
> --- this should be a lot more convenient than trying to use the SVN
> diff to understand and selectively undo changes.
> 
Unfortunately this does not currently exist.  Fortunately the LyX file is not 
too hard to read once you get used to it (unless you are looking at a table).


-- 
Todd Denniston
Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane)
Harnessing the Power of Technology for the Warfighter
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