admin(1)admin(1)Nameadmin - SCCS file administrator
Syntaxadmin [-n] [-i[name]] [-rrel] [-t[name]] [-fflag[flag-val]]
[-dflag[flag-val]] [-alogin] [-elogin] [-m[list]] [-y[comment]] [-h]
[-z] files
Description
The command is used to create new SCCS files and to change parameters
of existing ones. Arguments to which may appear in any order, consist
of keyletter arguments, which begin with -, and named files (note that
SCCS file names must begin with the characters s.). If a named file
does not exist, it is created, and its parameters are initialized
according to the specified keyletter arguments. Parameters not ini‐
tialized by a keyletter argument are assigned a default value. If a
named file does exist, parameters corresponding to specified keyletter
arguments are changed, and other parameters are left as is.
If a directory is named, behaves as though each file in the directory
were specified as a named file, except that non-SCCS files (last compo‐
nent of the path name does not begin with s.) and unreadable files are
ignored. If a name of - is given, the standard input is read; each
line of the standard input is taken to be the name of an SCCS file to
be processed. Again, non-SCCS files and unreadable files are ignored.
Options
Each keyletter argument is explained as though only one named file is
to be processed, because the effects of the arguments apply indepen‐
dently to each named file. The list of arguments is as follows:
-n This keyletter indicates that a new SCCS file is to
be created.
-i[name] The name of a file from which the text for a new
SCCS file is to be taken. The text constitutes the
first delta of the file (see the -r keyletter for
the delta numbering scheme).
If the i keyletter is used, but the file name is
omitted, the text is obtained by reading the stan‐
dard input until an end-of-file is encountered. If
this keyletter is omitted, then the SCCS file is
created empty.
Only one SCCS file can be created by an command in
which the i keyletter is supplied. Using a single
command to create two or more SCCS files requires
that they be created empty (no -i keyletter). Note
that the -i keyletter implies the -n keyletter.
-rrel The release into which the initial delta is
inserted. This keyletter may be used only if the
-i keyletter is also used. If the -r keyletter is
not used, the initial delta is inserted into
release 1. The level of the initial delta is
always 1. By default, initial deltas are named
1.1.
-t[name] The name of a file from which descriptive text for
the SCCS file is to be taken. If the -t keyletter
is used and is creating a new SCCS file (the -n
and/or -i keyletters are also used), the descrip‐
tive text file name must also be supplied.
In the case of existing SCCS files: (1) a -t
keyletter without a file name causes removal of
descriptive text (if any) currently in the SCCS
file; and (2) a -t keyletter with a file name
causes text (if any) in the named file to replace
the descriptive text (if any) currently in the SCCS
file.
-fflag This keyletter specifies a flag, and, possibly, a
value for the flag, to be placed in the SCCS file.
Several f keyletters can be supplied on a single
command line. The allowable flags and their values
are:
b Allows use of the -b keyletter on a command to
create branch deltas.
cceil The highest release (``ceiling''), a positive
number no higher than 9999, which may be
retrieved by a command for editing. The
default value for an unspecified c flag is
9999.
ffloor The lowest release (``floor''), a positive
number greater than 0 but less than 9999,
which may be retrieved by a command for edit‐
ing. The default value for an unspecified f
flag is 1.
dSID The default delta number (SID) to be used by a
command.
i Causes the "No id keywords (ge6)" message
issued by or to be treated as a fatal error.
In the absence of this flag, the message is
only a warning. The message is issued if no
SCCS identification keywords are found in the
text retrieved or stored in the SCCS file.
For further information, see
j Allows concurrent get(1) commands for editing
on the same SID of an SCCS file. This allows
multiple concurrent updates to the same ver‐
sion of the SCCS file.
llist A list of releases to which deltas can no
longer be made (get -e against one of these
``locked'' releases fails). The list has the
following syntax:
<list> ::= <range> | <list> , <range>
<range> ::= RELEASE NUMBER | a
The character a in the list is equivalent to
specifying all releases for the named SCCS
file.
n Causes to create a null delta in each of those
releases (if any) being skipped when a delta
is made in a new release. For example, in
making delta 5.1 after delta 2.7, releases 3
and 4 are skipped. These null deltas serve as
anchor points, so that branch deltas can later
be created from them. The absence of this
flag causes skipped releases to be nonexistent
in the SCCS file, preventing branch deltas
from being created from them in the future.
qtext User definable text substituted for all occur‐
rences of the %Q% keyword in SCCS file text
retrieved by get(1).
mmod Module name of the SCCS file substituted for
all occurrences of the %M% keyword in SCCS
file tex retrieved by If the m flag is not
specified, the value assigned is the name of
the SCCS file with the leading s. removed.
ttype Type of module in the SCCS file substituted
for all occurrences of %Y% keyword in SCCS
file text retrieved by get(1).
v[pgm] Causes to prompt for modification request (MR)
numbers as the reason for creating a delta.
The optional value specifies the name of an MR
number validity checking program. For further
information, see (If this flag is set when
creating an SCCS file, the m keyletter must
also be used even if its value is null).
-dflag Causes deletion of the specified flag from an SCCS
file. The -d keyletter can be specified only when
processing existing SCCS files. Several -d keylet‐
ters can be supplied on a single command. See the
-f keyletter for allowable flag names.
-llist A list of releases to be unlocked. See the -f
keyletter for a description of the l flag and the
syntax of a list.
-alogin A login name or numerical ULTRIX System group ID to
be added to the list of users which can make deltas
(changes) to the SCCS file. A group ID is equiva‐
lent to specifying all login names common to that
group ID. Several a keyletters can be used on a
single command line. As many logins or numerical
group IDs as desired can be on the list simultane‐
ously. If the list of users is empty, then anyone
can add deltas.
-elogin A login name or numerical group ID to be erased
from the list of users allowed to make deltas
(changes) to the SCCS file. Specifying a group ID
is equivalent to specifying all login names common
to that group ID. Several e keyletters can be used
on a single command line.
-y[comment] The comment text is inserted into the SCCS file as
a comment for the initial delta in a manner identi‐
cal to that of Omission of the -y keyletter results
in a default comment line being inserted in the
form:
date and time created YY/MM/DD HH:MM:SS by login
The -y keyletter is valid only if the -i or -n
keyletters are specified.
-m[mrlist] The list of modification requests (MR) numbers is
inserted into the SCCS file as the reason for cre‐
ating the initial delta in a manner identical to
The v flag must be set and the MR numbers are vali‐
dated if the v flag has a value (the name of an MR
number validation program). Diagnostics occur if
the v flag is not set or MR validation fails.
-h Causes to check the structure of the SCCS file and
to compare a newly computed check-sum (the sum of
all the characters in the SCCS file except those in
the first line) with the check-sum that is stored
in the first line of the SCCS file. Appropriate
error diagnostics are produced. For further infor‐
mation, see
This keyletter inhibits writing on the file, so
that it nullifies the effect of any other keylet‐
ters supplied. It is, therefore, only meaningful
when processing existing files.
-z The SCCS file check-sum is recomputed and stored in
the first line of the SCCS file (see -h, above).
Note that use of this keyletter on a truly cor‐
rupted file may prevent future detection of the
corruption.
Diagnostics
Use sccshelp(1) for explanations.
Restrictions
When creating a new SCCS file with the -n or -i options, the g-file
path name cannot be of the form s.file-name.
Files
The last component of all SCCS file names are of the form s.file-name.
New SCCS files are given mode 444. For further information, see Write
permission in the pertinent directory is required to create a file.
All writing done by is to a temporary x-file, called x.file-name, cre‐
ated with mode 444 if the command is creating a new SCCS file, or with
the same mode as the SCCS file if it exists. For further information,
see After successful execution of the SCCS file is removed if it
exists, and the x-file is renamed with the name of the SCCS file. This
ensures that changes are made to the SCCS file only if no errors
occurred.
The mode of the SCCS files prevents any modification at all except by
SCCS commands.
If it should be necessary to patch an SCCS file for any reason, the
mode may be changed to 644 by the owner, allowing use of Care must be
taken that correct commands are used when patching an SCCS file, other‐
wise further corruption of the file can occur. The edited file should
always be processed by an to check for corruption, followed by an to
generate a proper check-sum. Another is recommended to ensure the SCCS
file is valid.
The command also makes use of a transient lock file (called z.file-
name), which is used to prevent simultaneous updates to the SCCS file
by different users. For further information, see
See Alsodelta(1), ed(1), get(1), help(1), prs(1), sccs(1), what(1), sccsfile(5)
Guide to the Source Code Control System
admin(1)