NAME

       git-annex-view - enter a view branch

SYNOPSIS

       git  annex  view  [tag  ...]  [field=value  ...]  [field=glob  ...]  [?tag  ...] [field?=glob] [!tag ...]
       [field!=value ...]

DESCRIPTION

       Uses metadata to build a view branch of the files in the current branch, and checks out the view  branch.
       Only  files  in the current branch whose metadata matches all the specified field values and tags will be
       shown in the view.

       Multiple values for a metadata field can be specified, either by using a glob (field="*") or  by  listing
       each  wanted  value.  The resulting view will put files in subdirectories according to the value of their
       fields.

       Once within such a view, you can make additional directories, and copy or move files into them. When  you
       commit,  the  metadata  will be updated to correspond to your changes. Deleting files and committing also
       updates the metadata.

       As well as the usual metadata, there are fields available corresponding to the path to  the  file.  So  a
       file  "foo/bar/baz/file" has fields "/=foo", "foo/=bar", and "foo/bar/=baz". These location fields can be
       used the same as other metadata to construct the view.

       For example, /=foo will only include files from the foo directory in the view, while foo/=* will preserve
       the subdirectories of the foo directory in the view.

       To enter a view containing only files that lack a given metadata value or tag,  specify  field!=value  or
       !tag. (Globs cannot be used here.)

       field?=*  is  like field=* but adds an additional directory named _ (by default) that contains files that
       do not have the field set to any value.  Similarly, ?tag  adds  an  additional  directory  named  _  that
       contains  files that do not have any tags set. Moving files from the _ directory to another directory and
       committing will set the metadata. And moving files into the _ directory and  committing  will  unset  the
       metadata.

       The name of the _ directory can be changed using the annex.viewunsetdirectory git config.

       Filenames  in  the  view  branch  include  their path within the original branch, to ensure that they are
       unique. The path comes after the main filename, and before any  extensions.  For  example,  "foo/bar.baz"
       will  have a name like "bar_%foo%.baz". annex.maxextensionlength can be used to configure what is treated
       as an extension.

OPTIONS

       The git-annex-common-options(1) can be used.

SEE ALSO

       git-annex(1)

       git-annex-metadata(1)

       git-annex-vpop(1)

       git-annex-vfilter(1)

       git-annex-vadd(1)

       git-annex-vcycle(1)

       git-annex-adjust(1)

AUTHOR

       Joey Hess <id@joeyh.name>

                                                                                               git-annex-view(1)