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Re: Feature request: Longer "use --force to override" messages

From: Barry Scott <barry_at_barrys-emacs.org>
Date: 2006-03-12 17:54:20 CET

On Mar 12, 2006, at 14:29, Vincent Starre wrote:

> Julian Foad wrote:
>
>> Vincent Starre wrote:
>>
>>> Simple request here. Sometimes SVN says something like "cannot do
>>> this, file has local changes. (use --force to override this
>>> restriction)", but it doesnt do anything to explain the true
>>> implications of this. I am left wondering when, for example, I
>>> move a modified file, "Does this mean it will destroy my changes?"
>>>
>>> Anyone agree/disagree?
>>
>>
>> I agree. The right place to explain what "--force" does is in the
>> help (not in the error message). The help system has recently
>> been modified to allow the description of an option to be tailored
>> to suit different subcommands.
>
> I would disagree with that. The help has no way of being entirely
> specific to your own situation. For example: --force might cause
> the over-writing of a file which exists, /or/ it might cause
> partially-missing history (or both). Being told all the things --
> force might do would be just as ambiguous as guessing all the
> things --force might do, wouldnt it?

The third way might be to list what would happen when a dry run is
performed with --force --dry-run.

Barry

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Received on Sun Mar 12 17:54:52 2006

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