Remove svn:externals property from a folder

Question

I have a branch of the trunk. I need to re-set the properties of the externals in the branch to a different point. My idea was to remove them all and re-set them with propset. When I type svn propdel svn:externals http://path-to-branch/externals

I get

svn: E200009: Targets must be working copy paths

Whats the problem with my command?

Solution

Your command is operating on the repository URL, not a working copy. Check out a working copy first:

svn co http://path-to-branch path/to/workingcopy

Then modify the property in your working copy:

svn propdel svn:externals path/to/workingcopy

Commit the change, and you should be all set. I would be remiss not to point out that it is not actually necessary to delete them first, propedit will overwrite whatever the property was beforehand.

Comments

[Guy]

I've tried the following to over write some properties, but i'm not sure of the syntax:

[Guy]

I've tried the following to over write some properties, but i'm not sure of the syntax: svn propset svn:externals --revprop -r HEAD "abc /abc" "target-to-svn-branch/externals" but it says that at least one propery change failed and "Error setting property 'externals': Revprop change blocked by pre-revprop-change hoot... Changing revision properties other than svn:log is prohibited"

[Lazy Badger]

@Gui - externals is versioned property of PATH, not unversioned of revision

[Peter Bratton]

"Revprop change blocked by pre-revprop-change hoot" - Assuming that's a typo and you meant hook, it means there's a custom pre-rev hook thats preventing you from making the change. You'll need to contact your repository's administrator.