ClearCase Reference Manual, Release 4.0, Windows

rmelem

Removes an element or symbolic link from a VOB

APPLICABILITY

ClearCase (cleartool subcommand), Attache (command)

SYNOPSIS

rmelem [ -f·orce ] [ -c·omment comment | -cfi·le comment-file-pname: |-cq·uery | -cqe·ach | -nc·omment ] pname ...

DESCRIPTION

The rmelem command completely deletes one or more elements or symbolic links. In a snapshot view, rmelem also unloads the element from the view.

This command destroys information irretrievably. Using it carelessly may compromise your organization's ability to support old releases. In many cases, it is better to use the rmname command.

For each element, rmelem does the following:

Removes the entire version tree structure from the VOB database: element object, branch objects, and version objects.
Removes all metadata items (labels, attributes, hyperlinks, and triggers) that were attached to the element.
Removes all event records for the element.
(File elements only) Removes the data containers that hold the element's file-system data from its source storage pool.
Removes all references to the element from versions of the VOB's directory elements. (This means that subsequent listings and comparisons of those directory versions will be historically inaccurate.)
(Attache only) Removes read-only workspace local files/directories corresponding to successfully removed elements in the view. Local writable files, including any in a directory's subtrees, cause a confirming query to be issued.
Creates a destroy element event record on the element's VOB; this event record is displayed by the lshistory vob: command.

RESTRICTION: You cannot remove an element if any of its versions are checked out. (It is not necessary to check out the parent directory before removing one of its elements.)

For each symbolic link, rmelem does the following:

Removes the symbolic link and link object from the VOB.
Removes all metadata items (attributes and hyperlinks) that were attached to the symbolic link .
Removes all event records for the symbolic link.
Removes all references to the symbolic link from versions of the VOB's directory elements. (This means that subsequent listings and comparisons of those directory versions will be historically inaccurate.)
(Attache only) Removes read-only workspace local files/directories corresponding to successfully removed symbolic links in the view. Local writable files, including any in a directory's subtrees, cause a confirming query to be issued.

NOTE: rmelem does not create an event record when you remove a symbolic link.

rmelem deletes an instance of an element type object. To delete the element type object itself or to delete the type object and all its instances, use the rmtype command.

Deleting a Directory Element

NOTE: Only dynamic views have lost+found directories and derived objects.

Deleting a directory element may cause some other elements (and symbolic links, if the VOB is replicated) to be orphaned: no longer cataloged in any version of any directory. rmelem displays a message and moves an orphaned element or symbolic link to the VOB's lost+found directory:

cleartool: Warning: Object "foo.c" no longer referenced. cleartool: Warning: Moving object to vob lost+found directory as "foo.c.a0650992e2b911ccb4bc08006906af65".

(See the mkvob reference page for a description of this directory.)

Each derived object in the deleted directory is also moved to lost+found. The derived object has no data, but you can use it in such commands as lsdo and catcr. View-private objects in the deleted directory are temporarily stranded, but can be transferred to the view's own lost+found directory, as follows:

Use lsprivate to locate stranded files and to determine the ClearCase identifier of the deleted directory element:

cmd-context lsprivate -invob \david_phobos_hw . . .

#<Unavailable-VOB-1>\<DIR-c8051152.e2ba11cc.b4c0.08:00:69:06:af:65>\myfile

Use recoverview to move all the stranded files for the deleted directory:

cmd-context recoverview -dir c8051152.e2ba11cc.b4c0.08:00:69:06:af:65 -tag myview

Moved file c:\users\david\myview.vws\.s\lost+found\5ECC880E.00A5.myfile

Deleting Elements and Symbolic Links from the lost+found Directory

Use rmelem to delete unwanted elements or symbolic links from the lost+found directory (lost+found is associated with dynamic views only). If you need an element in lost+found, catalog it in a versioned directory using mv.

PERMISSIONS AND LOCKS

Permissions Checking: For each object processed, you must be one of the following: element owner, symbolic link owner, VOB owner, member of the ClearCase group. See the permissions reference page.

Locks: An error occurs if any of the following objects are locked: VOB, element type, element, pool (nondirectory elements only).

OPTIONS AND ARGUMENTS

CONFIRMATION STEP. Default: rmelem prompts for confirmation before deleting anything.

-f·orce: (ClearCase only) Suppresses the confirmation step.

: (Attache only) Suppresses the confirmation step for deleting anything in the view or VOB. The confirmation for local writable files still pertains.

EVENT RECORDS AND COMMENTS. Default: Creates one or more event records, with commenting controlled by your .clearcase_profile file (default: -nc). See CUSTOMIZING COMMENT HANDLING in the comments reference page. Comments can be edited with chevent.

-c·omment comment | -cfi·le comment-file-pname |-cq·uery | -cqe·ach | -nc·omment: Overrides the default with the option you specify. See the comments reference page.

SPECIFYING THE ELEMENTS TO BE REMOVED. Default: None.

pname ...: One or more pathnames, indicating the elements or symbolic links to be deleted. An extended pathname to a particular version or branch of an element references the element itself.

EXAMPLES

Examples including wildcards or quoting are written for use in cleartool interactive mode. If you use cleartool single-command mode, you may need to change the wildcards and quoting to make your command interpreter process the command appropriately.

In cleartool single-command mode, cmd-context represents the command interpreter prompt. In cleartool interactive mode, cmd-context represents the interactive cleartool prompt. In Attache, cmd-context represents the workspace prompt.

Delete the file element rotate.c.

cmd-context rmelem rotate.c Element "rotate.c" has 1 branches, 2 versions, and is entered in 6 directory versions. Remove element, all its branches and versions and modify all directory versions containing element? [no] yes Removed element "rotate.c".

Delete the directory element release. Note that an orphaned element, hello, is moved to the VOB's lost+found directory. (The view context is dynamic.)

cmd-context rmelem release Element "release" has 1 branches, 9 versions, and is entered in 35 directory versions. Remove element, all its branches and versions and modify all directory versions containing element? [no] yes cleartool: Warning: Object "hello" no longer referenced. Object moved to vob lost+found directory as "hello.5d400002090711cba06a080069061935". Removed element "release".

Delete the symbolic link text.c from the lost+found directory. (The view context is dynamic.)

cmd-context rmelem \dev\lost+found\text.c CAUTION! This will destroy the symbolic link, and will remove the symbolic link from all directory versions that now contain it. Once you destroy the symbolic link, it will be hard to restore it to its current state. If you want to preserve the symbolic link, but remove references to it from future directory versions, use the "rmname" command. Symbolic link "text.c" is entered in 3 directory versions. Destroy symbolic link? yes Removed symbolic link "text.c".