Reuse a ClearCase view
clearcase, clearcase-ucm
Solution
Yes, for a snapshot view, provided the ClearCase view storage (the `.vws` directory) isn't on the same workstation than the view itself.
The only file needed to make a directory a root directory of a (previously created) snapshot view is the hidden file `view.dat`.
See the IBM technote "Regenerate the `view.dat` file"
And the perl script (packaged within any ClearCase installation) used to restore that view.dat file is `<ClearCase>\etc\utils\regen_view_dot_dat.pl -tag <view-tag-id> <view root directory path>`.
Example:
C:\source>ccperl c:\Rational\ClearCase\etc\utils\regen_view_dot_dat.pl -tag aSnapViewName .
rgy_view_uuid: "d17190d381de4ce89757d5465eb41f2c".
creating ".\view.dat".
C:\source>type view.dat
ws_oid:00000000000000000000000000000000 view_uuid:d17190d381de4ce89757d5465eb41f2c
Again, that can only work if the view storage `\\shared\path\to\aSnapViewName.vws` is in a shared path accessible from the workstation or from the new laptop.
Problem
I would like to reload a view (which was created previously) instead of creating a whole new one. Two scenarios: 1 - Hard drive crashes and the local view isn't there anymore. 2 - A new laptop is set up with ClearCase. In either (or both) of these cases, can a view be restored on your local drive? Or does the view have to be removed and then create a new one? I would rather not have STREAM_2_int and STREAM_3_int if I can get away from that. (Side question: If someone has a desktop and a laptop, can they use the same view on each, or is it only one for each computer?)