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)