Merging changes done by multiple users

If you use Rational ClearCase® as your software configuration management system, when multiple users make changes to the same file, the second user to check in the file is required to merge.

To merge is the process of combining the contents of two or more files into a single new file. The first user to check in the file creates a new version. The second user to check in the file is required to merge. If ClearCase can manage combining the multiple edits to the file, the changes are merged into a new version of the file automatically. If the edits conflict or cannot be resolved, users must resolve the conflicts. ClearCase starts the Diff Merge tool, in which you can view the differences and merge two or more files, if necessary.

The following table describes the type of Functional Tester files, the tool used for the merge, and the rules for checking in files or merging files.

File Merge Method or Rules for Check In
Java files Functional Tester merges the files automatically. If an automatic merge cannot be performed, ClearCase starts the Diff Merge tool, in which you resolve the conflicts. For information about using the Diff Merge tool, see the ClearCase Help.
Object map files

Functional Tester merges object map files automatically.

To review the automatic merge of object map files, use the Object Map Editor. For example, if two users add the same object to the map, but the recognition information for the object differs on each user's system, two objects will be in the object map. Use the object map to unify the two objects.

For information about how Functional Tester behaves when you cancel the check in of a shared or private test object map at various stages of the procedure, see Canceling While Checking in a Merged Test Object Map.

Script definition files If Functional Tester cannot merge two files, automatically, it does not complete the checkin.
Verification point files Functional Tester determines which verification point file to check in if two versions are in question.
Datapool files Functional Tester determines which datapool file to check in if two versions are in question.


Related concepts

Hijacked files

Related tasks

Displaying the history of an element

Comparing versions of elements

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