Opening Files for Edit

A file can be opened for edit if:

• The file is synced in your workspace
• You have permission to open the file
• The file is not already opened in your workspace

When Perforce puts files in your workspace, it normally gives them read-only permission to start with. (See the sync command to find out how to get files into your workspace.) The open for edit command makes files writable so you can edit them, and puts them in a pending changelist so you can submit them later. The icon reminds you when you have files open for edit.

You can open files for edit by:

• Choosing Open for edit... from the pulldown menu on the Files tab. This menu option displays the Open for Edit Options page, described in more detail below.

• Selecting the file and clicking the Open for edit button, which opens the selected file for edit in the default changelist without changing its filetype.

The Open for Edit Options page

Selecting Open for edit... from the pulldown menu displays the Open for Edit page, where you can select the following file options.

• Put opened files in changelist: If your client workspace has more than one pending changelist, this option enables you to select the changelist into which opened files appear.
• Specify filetype: Use this option to change the filetype of Perforce-managed files. Click the checkbox and select the filetype and filetype modifier(s). When you submit files opened this way, the new revisions in the depot will have the new filetype.
• Restricting files: If you came to this page by clicking a directory and then choosing Open for edit... you can restrict the files to be opened.

After you have selected your options, click Open for edit.