Question & Answer
Question
What should I know before using ClearCase® automatic views?
Answer
V8.0.1.7
Notes on using automatic views
- For more information about the performance of automatic views on a machine where both IBM® Rational ClearCase Remote Client (CCRC) and ClearCase® Local Client (CCLC) are installed, see http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/256161.
- When the predecessor of a hijacked object is not the latest version, converting the hijack to a checkout can fail. To convert a hijack to a checkout in this situation, see http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/525499.
- The remote view agent does not handle SSL exceptions. For instructions on handling such exceptions, see http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/526909.
- View update needed for automatic view to see a newly created VOB: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/527187.
CM API: folder read omits removed files
In an automatic view, a local read (readProperties()) of the Folder.CHILD_MAP or Folder.CHILD_LIST properties omits files is removed; for instructions on accessing the omitted files, see http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/524953.
Limitations
Automatic views do not support all of ClearCase® functionality. For a list of limitations, see http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/526891.
Known issues
Automatic views are affected by the following problems:
- Rename of filesystem object loaded into automatic view causes checkout to fail: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/256865
- Uncheckout of renamed directory after uncheckout of its parent directory fails: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/256957
- CCRC WAN server fails to find view by UUID: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/255991
- Windows explorer incorrectly displays dynamic view tag for automatic view drive: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/255387
- Unexpected death of remote view agent (RVA) process: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/527365
- I/O device error when an element is removed under certain circumstances: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/255677
- Automatic views do not support "nested" load rules: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/256669
- Checkout of object specified by symbolic link fails: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/256271
V8.0.1.8
New support
Automatic views now support the following features:
- Unix and Linux servers, with the limitations that Solaris x86 and multicomponent VOB tags are not supported
- Integrations with ClearQuest®, Rational Team Concert, Visual Studio, and Rational Desktop products
- ClearCase® MultiSite
- The rcleartool remote command line interface
Support for rcleartool
This release introduces new rcleartool commands and changes to several existing commands to support automatic views. Some limitations apply.
New commands
rcleartool hijack pname ...
Hijacks file elements. This command is supported in an automatic view only.
- pname specifies the file that is to be hijacked; you cannot specify a directory or a symbolic link.
rcleartool unhijack [-keep] pname ...
Unhijacks hijacked file elements. This command is supported in an automatic view only.
- -keep creates a view-private copy of the file named element-name.keep.
- pname specifies the file that is to be unhijacked.
Changed commands
- The edcs command has separate synopses for web and automatic views:
- Web view: edcs [ –ove/rwrite | –ren/ame ] [ –pti/me ] [ file ]
- Automatic view: edcs [ –ove/rwrite | –ren/ame ] [ file ]
- The mkview command for automatic views includes a new -ptime option:
- mkview –automatic –tag automatic-view-tag ] [ –tco/mment tag-comment ] [ –tmo/de { insert_cr | transparent | strip_cr } ] [ -ptime ] [ –str/eam stream-selector ] [ –clt/xt_storage cltxt-cache-storage-pname ] automatic-view-storage-pname
- The setcs command has separate synopses for web and automatic views:
- Web view: setcs [ –force ] [ –ove/rwrite | –ren/ame ] [ -ptime ] pname
- Automatic view: setcs [ –force ] [ –ove/rwrite | –ren/ame ] pname
- The update command has separate synopses for web and automatic views:
- Web view–update elements: update [ –print ] [ –ove/rwrite | –nov/erwrite | –ren/ame ] [ –ptime ] [ pname ... ]
- Web view–load elements: update –add/_loadrules [ –print ] [ –ove/rwrite | –nov/erwrite | –ren/ame ] [ –ptime ] pname [ ... ]
- Automatic view–update elements: update [ –print ] [ –ove/rwrite | –nov/erwrite | –ren/ame ] [ pname ... ]
- Automatic view–load elements: update –add/_loadrules [ –print ] [ –ove/rwrite | –nov/erwrite | –ren/ame ] pname [ ...]
Support for disconnected mode
The use of rcleartool in disconnected mode is not fully supported.
Unsupported commands
The following rcleartool commands are not supported in an automatic view (they are supported in a web view):
- chactivity
- checkin -atomic
- deliver
- diff
- get
- merge
- mkbl
- mkbranch
- rebase
About VOB symbolic links
Some limitations affect VOB symbolic links in the context of an automatic view:
- You cannot supply a path that includes a symbolic link as an argument to an rcleartool command such as checkout.
- Similarly, the objects selected by rcleartool find might not include VOB symbolic links.
However, the interactive traversal of symbolic links is supported; for example, you can use the rcleartool cd command to navigate paths that include symbolic links.
Note: You cannot create symbolic links in ClearTeam Explorer, regardless of the view type.
Limitations
Automatic views do not support the following features:
- Atomic checkin
- Version-extended pathnames from non-ClearCase tools
- Client-side shared-cleartext cache scrubbing
- Unix or Linux client support
- Proxy server support
- Authenticating firewall support
Modifying a ClearCase installation to add automatic view support
Some configuration is required after you modify an 8.0.1.8 installation to add automatic view support; for instructions, see http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/530295.
Known issues
Automatic views are affected by the following problems:
- Uncheckout of renamed directory after uncheckout of its parent directory fails: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/256957
- CCRC WAN server fails to find view by UUID: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/255991
- Unexpected death of remote view agent (RVA) process: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/527365
- I/O device error when an element is removed under certain circumstances: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/255677
- Updates missed after directory move followed by uncheckout: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/534629
V8.0.1.9
Changes to rcleartool commands
This release introduces a new rcleartool command and changes to some existing commands to support automatic views:
- The disconnect command is new: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/533043.
- The output of lsserver is changed to indicate the connection and authentication status of an automatic view: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/533843.
- The set command has an extra, simplified synopsis: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/266255.
Unsupported commands
In this release, the following rcleartool commands are not supported in an automatic view (they are supported in a web view):
- checkin -atomic
- mkbranch
Notes on using automatic views
Refer to the following technotes about using automatic views:
- Delayed connection after authentication: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/534403.
- Referencing the CCRC WAN server consistently: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/533851.
About VOB symbolic links
Some limitations affect VOB symbolic links in the context of an automatic view:
- You cannot supply a path that includes a symbolic link as an argument to an rcleartool command such as checkout.
- Similarly, the objects selected by rcleartool find might not include VOB symbolic links.
However, the interactive traversal of symbolic links is supported; for example, you can use the rcleartool cd command to navigate paths that include symbolic links.
Note: You cannot create symbolic links in ClearTeam Explorer, regardless of the view type.
Limitations
Automatic views do not support the following features:
- Atomic checkin
- Version-extended pathnames from non-ClearCase tools
- Client-side shared-cleartext cache scrubbing
- Unix or Linux client support
- Proxy server support
- Authenticating firewall support
Known issues
Automatic views are affected by the following problems:
- CCRC WAN server fails to find view by UUID: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/255991
- Unexpected death of remote view agent (RVA) process: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/527365
- I/O device error when an element is removed under certain circumstances: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/255677
- Updates missed after directory move followed by uncheckout: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/534629
V8.0.1.10
Support for ClearCase features
Automatic views now support the following ClearCase® features:
- Listing all view-private files that are associated with an automatic view in (in earlier releases, only view-private files in the current directory were visible).
- UNIX-style multicomponent VOB tags (on Windows clients).
- The clearmake build utility.
Changes to CM API
A new property and a new method that support automatic views are introduced in this release:
- The CcDirectory.AGGREGATED_VIEW_PRIVATE_LIST property allows callers to retrieve a list of view-private files that does not include hijacks or checkouts.
- The CcView.updateServerUrl() method allows users to continue to use their views after a server rename operation.
Unsupported commands
The following rcleartool commands are not supported in an automatic view (they are supported in a web view):
- checkin -atomic
- mkbranch
Notes on using automatic views
Refer to the following technotes about using automatic views:
- Delayed connection after authentication: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/534403.
- Referencing the CCRC WAN server consistently: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/533851.
Limitations
Automatic views do not support the following features:
- Atomic checkin
- Version-extended pathnames from non-ClearCase tools
- Client-side shared-cleartext cache scrubbing
- Unix/Linux client support
- Proxy server support
- Authenticating firewall support
Known issues
Automatic views are affected by the following problems:
- CCRC WAN server fails to find view by UUID: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/255991
- Unexpected death of remote view agent (RVA) process: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/527365
- I/O device error when an element is removed under certain circumstances: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/255677
- Updates missed after directory move followed by uncheckout: http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/534629
V8.0.1.11 through 8.0.1.25
No changes to automatic views were introduced in these releases.V9.0.0
Configuring Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
For more information on configuring SSL for all ClearCase® configurations, see technote http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/541765.
View schema change
The view schema is changed, with this effect: when an automatic view that was created in an older release is started after the view server host is upgraded to this release, there is a slight delay while the view is reformatted. This happens only the first time the view is started.
V9.0.0.1 through 9.0.0.5
No changes to automatic views were introduced in these releases.
V9.0.0.6
Mapping an automatic view root directory to a drive letter on Windows
For more information on how to map an automatic view root directory to a drive letter on Windows, see technote http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/299661.
V9.0.1
No changes to automatic views were introduced in this release.
V9.0.1.1
No changes to automatic views were introduced in this release.
V9.0.1.2
Mapping an automatic view root directory to a drive letter on Windows
For more information on how to map an automatic view root directory to a drive letter on Windows, see technote http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/299661.
Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux
For more information about the Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux (x86 and x86_64 hardware only), see technote http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/299151.
V9.0.1.3 through 9.0.1.5
No changes to automatic views were introduced in this release.
Note: The Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux was introduced in version 9.0.1.2 and it continues through 9.0.1.5. For more information about the Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux (x86 and x86_64 hardware only), see technote http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/299151.
V9.0.1.6 and later
As of 9.0.1.6, automatic views can now be mapped to a drive letter by using net use, similar to dynamic views.
Note: The Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux was introduced in version 9.0.1.2 and it continues to be supported. For more information about the Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux (x86 and x86_64 hardware only), see technote http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/299151.
V9.0.2 and later
No changes to automatic views were introduced in these releases.
Note: The Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux was introduced in version 9.0.1.2 and continues into the 9.0.2.x releases. For more information about the Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux (x86 and x86_64 hardware only), see technote http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/299151.
V9.1.0
No changes to automatic views were introduced in this release.
Note: The Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux was introduced in version 9.0.1.2 and it continues through 9.1.0. For more information about the Technology Preview of automatic view support on Linux (x86 and x86_64 hardware only), see technote http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/299151.
V9.1.0.1 and later
Full support for automatic views on Linux is now available. The functionality is the same as was introduced in the Technology Preview with refinements made during the preview period. Support for automatic views on Windows continues.
Server installation
For instructions on installing and configuring server-side components for automatic views, see technote http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/514843.
Key help topics
The automatic view combines certain features of the dynamic view with those of the web view. The following help topics contain important information that you must read before using this type of view:
- Overview of ClearCase® client types, view types, and user interfaces: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/rational-clearcase/10.0?topic=developing-software-rational-clearteam-explorer
- Comparison of the features of the different view types: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/rational-clearcase/10.0?topic=clearcase-about-views
- View creation and configuration: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/rational-clearcase/10.0?topic=interface-clearcase-view-creation-wizards and the subtopics of this topic.
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Document Information
Modified date:
15 December 2022
UID
swg21699087