// Fundamental Perforce operations including sync, edit, add, delete, submit, revert, and file state management.
| name | tools-p4-basics |
| description | Fundamental Perforce operations including sync, edit, add, delete, submit, revert, and file state management. |
Perforce (P4) is a centralized version control system optimized for large codebases and binary assets. This skill covers essential daily operations.
| State | Description | Command to Change |
|---|---|---|
| Not in depot | File exists locally but not tracked | p4 add |
| Synced | File matches depot version | - |
| Edited | Open for edit, modified locally | p4 edit then modify |
| Added | Marked for addition to depot | p4 add |
| Deleted | Marked for deletion from depot | p4 delete |
| Out of date | Depot has newer version | p4 sync |
# Specific revision number
file.txt#3
# Head revision (latest)
file.txt#head
# Changelist number
file.txt@12345
# Label
file.txt@release_1.0
# Date/time
file.txt@2024/01/15
file.txt@2024/01/15:14:30:00
# Revision range
file.txt#2,#5
file.txt@10000,@12000
# Sync entire workspace to head
p4 sync
# Sync specific path
p4 sync //depot/project/...
# Sync specific file
p4 sync //depot/project/file.txt
# Sync to specific revision
p4 sync //depot/project/...#head
p4 sync //depot/project/...@12345
# Sync to specific changelist
p4 sync @12345
# Preview sync (don't actually sync)
p4 sync -n //depot/project/...
# Force sync (re-download even if up to date)
p4 sync -f //depot/project/...
# Parallel sync (faster for many files)
p4 sync --parallel=threads=4 //depot/project/...
# Safe sync (don't clobber writable files)
p4 sync -s //depot/project/...
# Sync and show affected files
p4 sync //depot/project/... 2>&1 | head -50
# Sync only specific file types
p4 sync //depot/project/....cs
p4 sync //depot/project/....prefab
# Sync excluding paths (use workspace view instead)
# Or sync specific subdirectories
p4 sync //depot/project/Assets/Scripts/...
# Edit single file
p4 edit file.txt
# Edit multiple files
p4 edit *.cs
# Edit files in directory
p4 edit Assets/Scripts/...
# Edit with specific changelist
p4 edit -c 12345 file.txt
# Edit to default changelist
p4 edit -c default file.txt
# See files open for edit
p4 opened
# See files open in specific changelist
p4 opened -c 12345
# See files open by all users
p4 opened -a //depot/project/...
# See who has file open
p4 opened -a //depot/project/file.txt
# Add single file
p4 add newfile.txt
# Add multiple files
p4 add *.cs
# Add files recursively
p4 add Assets/NewFeature/...
# Add to specific changelist
p4 add -c 12345 newfile.txt
# Add with specific file type
p4 add -t binary+l largefile.bin
p4 add -t text+x script.sh
# Common file types
text # Text file, diff/merge enabled
binary # Binary file, no diff/merge
unicode # Unicode text
symlink # Symbolic link
# Modifiers
+l # Exclusive lock (only one user can edit)
+w # Always writable on client
+x # Executable bit
+S # Only head revision stored (saves space)
+F # Check for RCS keywords
# Examples
p4 add -t binary+l Assets/Textures/hero.psd # Locked binary
p4 add -t text Assets/Scripts/Player.cs # Text file
# Delete single file
p4 delete file.txt
# Delete multiple files
p4 delete *.bak
# Delete in specific changelist
p4 delete -c 12345 file.txt
# Delete files matching pattern
p4 delete //depot/project/....tmp
# See deleted files in depot
p4 files //depot/project/...@head | grep "delete change"
# Recover deleted file (sync old revision, then add)
p4 sync //depot/project/file.txt#head-1
p4 add file.txt
# Or use obliterate (admin only) to permanently remove
# Revert single file
p4 revert file.txt
# Revert all files in changelist
p4 revert -c 12345 //...
# Revert all open files
p4 revert //...
# Revert unchanged files only
p4 revert -a //...
# Revert with preview
p4 revert -n //...
# Sync to old revision (makes file read-only)
p4 sync //depot/project/file.txt#3
# To actually revert content and submit:
p4 sync //depot/project/file.txt#head
p4 edit file.txt
p4 sync -f //depot/project/file.txt#3
p4 resolve -ay file.txt
# Now submit
# Submit default changelist (opens editor for description)
p4 submit
# Submit specific changelist
p4 submit -c 12345
# Submit with description
p4 submit -d "Fix player movement bug"
# Submit specific files from default changelist
p4 submit file.txt
# Submit and reopen files for further editing
p4 submit -r -c 12345
# Check what will be submitted
p4 opened -c default
# Check for conflicts before submit
p4 sync
p4 resolve
# Verify files are correct
p4 diff -se //... # Files that differ from depot
# Check changelist description
p4 change -o 12345
# Files open for edit/add/delete
p4 opened
# Files that need sync
p4 sync -n //...
# Files modified but not opened (reconcile needed)
p4 status
# Reconcile local changes with depot
p4 reconcile //...
# List files in depot
p4 files //depot/project/...
# List files with specific pattern
p4 files //depot/project/....cs
# Get file info
p4 fstat //depot/project/file.txt
# Detailed file info
p4 fstat -Ol //depot/project/file.txt
# Find all local changes not in Perforce
p4 reconcile //...
# Preview reconcile
p4 reconcile -n //...
# Reconcile specific types
p4 reconcile -e //... # Edited files
p4 reconcile -a //... # Added files
p4 reconcile -d //... # Deleted files
# Reconcile to specific changelist
p4 reconcile -c 12345 //...
# 1. Check for open files
p4 opened
# 2. Sync latest
p4 sync
# 3. Resolve any conflicts
p4 resolve
# 4. Continue working
# 1. Open file for edit
p4 edit file.txt
# 2. Make changes
# ... edit file ...
# 3. Verify changes
p4 diff file.txt
# 4. Submit
p4 submit -d "Description of changes"
# 1. Create files locally
# ... create files ...
# 2. Add to Perforce
p4 add newfile.txt
# 3. Verify
p4 opened
# 4. Submit
p4 submit -d "Add new feature files"
p4 revert -ap4 opened before leaving for the dayp4 reconcile to catch local changes-n before destructive operations| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| "File not on client" | Run p4 sync first |
| "Can't edit - not synced" | Sync file, then edit |
| "Can't clobber writable file" | Use p4 sync -f or fix permissions |
| "File already open" | Check p4 opened -a for who has it |
| "Out of date" | Sync and resolve before submit |
| "No such file" | Check path, use p4 files to verify |
Perforce changelist management including creating, editing, moving files between changelists, and pending change workflows.
Perforce conflict resolution including merge strategies, 3-way merge, resolve workflows, and handling binary conflicts.
Perforce shelving for code review, sharing work-in-progress, backup, and collaboration workflows.