== Timestamp Extension ==
'''This extension is not distributed with Mercurial.'''

''Author: Friedrich Kastner-Masilko''

Repository: http://hg.osdn.net/view/mercurialextensions/timestamp

(Developed with Mercurial 1.1.2 - works up to 1.3 until revision [[http://hg.osdn.net/view/mercurialextensions/timestamp/file/12e14f81d23d/timestamp.py|13:12e14f81d23d]] - works with 1.4 up to 1.5 from revision [[http://hg.osdn.net/view/mercurialextensions/timestamp/file/6ea28b25c44f/timestamp.py|16:6ea28b25c44f]])

This extension is still in '''alpha''', use it at your own risk.

=== Overview ===
This extension saves and restores timestamps for files. It does this by means of a database file ''.hgtimestamp'', residing in the repo's root and thus being versioned. The extension forces a hook/wrapping of the commit operation, updating the timestamp database __before__ commiting. It additionally provides a postupdate hook for restoring the timestamps on update to another changeset and a command for explicit save and restore.

For an alternative approach to the timestamping problem, please take a look at Esben Skovenborg's [[http://bitbucket.org/esskov/hg_timestamp_update|timestamp hook]].
(quick differences: does not use ''mtime'', but commit time; no selection of files possible)

=== Specifying tracked files ===
To start tracking timestamps of files, add a ''.hgtimestamp'' text file to your repo's root. Edit the file with a text editor and add a line for each file you want to track. Simply put the file's path - as it appears in the output of Mercurial's status command - in this line.

The extension edits this database file by means of adding the timestamp as double value to each line - comma separated. Files that can't be found will be ignored.

To stop tracking a file, simply remove it's line from the file.

For an initial commit of the ''.hgtimestamp'' file you can use the "hg timestamp -s" command to timestamp all specified files.

=== Configuration ===
Configure your .hgrc to enable the extension by adding following lines:

{{{
[extensions]
timestamp = path/to/timestamp.py
}}}
This will already install the preprecommit hook. To additionally enable the postupdate hook for restoring the timestamps on update to another changeset, add the following lines:

{{{
[hooks]
update.timestamp = python:hgext.timestamp.hook
}}}
Unfortunately, this hook reference will not work with TortoiseHg. You will have to either:
 a. insert the timestamp.py file properly into the library.zip archive or
 a. use the following reference instead: {{{update.timestamp = python:<DRIVELETTER>:\path\to\timestamp.py:hook}}}

^This workaround has been provided by Rob Maris.^

=== Command Usage ===
The preprecommit hook saves timestamps for files in the database that are:
 a. modified or added during a commit without patterns specified or
 a. matched by the patterns specified in a commit.

To save the current timestamps for __all__ files in the database, use the timestamp command with the save option:

{{{
hg timestamp -s
}}}
The postupdate hook automatically restores timestamps, if you update to another changeset. If you want to revert individual files and restore their timestamps without updating to a complete changeset, you can use the timestamp command with the restore option:

{{{
hg revert -r <changeset> FILE
hg revert -r <changeset> .hgtimestamps
hg timestamp -r
}}}
^Unfortunately, this will restore the timestamps of all tracked files to the reverted changeset's status. An addition to define the file to be restored is on the TODO list.^

To list the timestamps stored in the repo, use the timestamp command without options:

{{{
hg timestamp
}}}
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CategoryExtensionsByOthers