Perforce 2009.2: Command Reference

p4 delete

Synopsis

Open file(s) in a client workspace for deletion from the depot.

Syntax

p4 [g-opts] delete [-c changelist#] [-n -v] file...

Description

The p4 delete command opens file(s) in a client workspace for deletion from the depot. The files are immediately removed from the client workspace, but are not deleted from the depot until the corresponding changelist is sent to the server with p4 submit.

Although it will appear that a deleted file has been deleted from the depot, the file is never truly deleted, as older revisions of the same file are always accessible. Instead, a new head revision of the file is created which marks the file as being deleted. If p4 sync is used to bring the head revision of this file into another workspace, the file is deleted from that workspace.

A file that is open for deletion will not appear on the client's have list.

Options

-c change#	Opens the files for delete within the specified changelist. If this flag is not provided, the files are linked to the default changelist.
-n	Preview which files would be opened for delete, without actually changing any files or metadata.
-v	Delete a file that is not synced into the client workspace.
g-opts	See the Global Options section.

Usage Notes

Can File Arguments Use Revision Specifier?	Can File Arguments Use Revision Range?	Minimal Access Level Required
No	No	open

•	A file that has been deleted from the client workspace with p4 delete can be reinstated in the client workspace and removed from the pending changelist with p4 revert. To do this, you must revert the deletion before submitting the changelist.

•

Perforce does not prevent users from opening files that are already open; its default scheme is to allow multiple users to open a file simultaneously, and then resolve file conflicts with p4 resolve. To prevent someone else from opening a file once you've opened it, use p4 lock. To determine whether or not another user already has a particular file open, use p4 opened -a file.

Examples

p4 delete //depot/README	Opens the file called README in the depot's top level directory for deletion. The corresponding file within the client workspace is immediately deleted, but the file is not deleted from the depot until the default changelist is submitted.
p4 delete -c 40 file	Opens file in the current client workspace for deletion. The file is immediately removed from the client workspace, but won't be deleted from the depot until changelist 40 is sent to the server with p4 submit.

Related Commands

To open a file for add	p4 add
To open a file for edit	p4 edit
To copy all open files to the depot	p4 submit
To read files from the depot into the client workspace	p4 sync
To create or edit a new changelist	p4 change
To list all opened files	p4 opened
To revert a file to its unopened state	p4 revert
To move an open file to a different changelist	p4 reopen