How to move some changeset to a new branch in mercurial

Question

I want to move a changeset from one branch to another. Basically, I currently have:

A -> B -> C -> D # default branch

And I want:

A # default branch
 \-> B -> C -> D # some_new_branch

Where some_new_branch does not exist yet. I am used to git, so I guess there is a simple "mercurial" way I am missing.

Solution 1

One way is to export a patch for B,C,D; update to A; branch; apply patch:

hg export -o patch B C D
hg update A
hg branch branchname
hg import patch

To remove B,C,D from the default branch, use the mq extension's strip command.

Solution 2

Sounds a bit like a cherry-pick operation in git. The Transplant Extension may be what you're looking for.

Solution 3

With Mercurial Queue:

# mark revisions as draft in case they were already shared
#hg phase --draft --force B:D
# make changesets a patch queue commits
# (patches are stored .hg/patches)
hg qimport -r B:D
# pop changesets from current branch
hg qpop -a
# 
hg branch some_new_branch
# push changesets to new branch
hg qpush -a
# and make them commits
hg qfinish -a

Without comments:

hg qimport -r B:D
hg qpop -a
hg branch some_new_branch
hg qpush -a
hg qfinish -a

Solution 4

Alternative to transplant or patch, you could use graft.

hg update A
hg branch branchname
hg graft -D "B:D"
hg strip B

Note that changing history is bad practice. You should strip only if you haven't pushed yet. Otherwise, you could still backout your changes.

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