Repository

In the VisualAge for Java IDE, the repository is a source control mechanism that allows you to track changes made to program elements. When you start the IDE, it connects to a repository. As you create and modify program elements in the workspace, your changes are automatically stored in the repository. You can undo changes by retrieving previous editions from the repository.

Unlike the workspace, the repository contains all editions of all program elements. When you remove program elements from the workspace, they remain in the repository. Over time, the repository will grow. You should periodically purge program elements that are no longer required, and then compact the repository to reduce its size.

tentergf.gif (577 bytes) In the team environment of VisualAge for Java, Enterprise Edition, all team members' editions are stored in a shared repository on a server.

The Repository Explorer is the visual interface to the repository. Here are some examples of tasks that you can perform from the Repository Explorer window:

Although the VisualAge for Java repository manages your code, it does not manage resource files, such as images and sound clips. Resource files are stored in the file system, and you are responsible for managing them. For more information, see the list of related topics at the end of this file.

tentergf.gif (577 bytes) In the team development environment, developers can use a shared resource directory, rather than keeping individual copies of resource files. This is unrelated to the repository.

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Workspace
Editions and Versioning

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Adding Projects and Packages from the Repository to the Workspace
Searching for a Program Element in the Repository
Comparing Editions of a Program Element
Purging Program Elements from the Repository
Backing Up the Repository
Compacting a Repository
Including Resource Files in a Project

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Repository Files