The Windows version of Clearcase is integrated with Windows Explorer. You can issue the "cleartool man" command to see the reference pages. Clearcase is both a version control system and a configuration management system. It is designed for use by teams. Clearcase has a command line interface (CLI) as well as a GUI one. The Clearcase Home Base allows access to most of the tools in Clearcase.
Clearcase objects have properties which are separate from Windows properties. A VOB (versioned object base) is a public storage area. A view is a private storage area for one user. There are two types of views: snapshot and dynamic. You need to use a view to access the VOB. Starting the view activates it so that data appears as a directory to Windows. You must mount at least one VOB and start at least one view to use Clearcase.
The config spec contains the rules that a view uses to select a version. A view can have only one checkout of a given element. Once checked out, only you and the administrator can undo your checkout. There are two types of checkouts: reserved and unreserved. Reserved checkouts are the default, and give an exclusive right to extend a branch to a new version. Unreserved checkouts allow multiple views to get a copy on the same branch, and requires a merge on checkin. The Merge Manager is a GUI tool to help resolve conflicts during the merge.
The Version Tree Browser is a tool which, among many other things, allows you to:
- compare versions of a file
- view meta data (such as labels)
- view a history of events on an object
A View Profile is an optional feature that allows common Clearcase information to be shared by a development team.
