If you're a developer who frequently works with SVN repositories, you may have encountered the issue of accessing a local repository with the wrong default author. This can be frustrating, especially if you have multiple developers working on the same project and need to keep track of who made which changes. Thankfully, changing the default author for accessing a local SVN repository is a simple process that can alleviate this problem.
First, it's important to understand what the default author is and why it matters. The default author is the name that is automatically assigned to any changes made in a repository if no author is specified. This is often the username of the person accessing the repository, but it can also be set to a specific name or left blank. This becomes an issue when multiple developers are working on the same repository, as their changes will all be attributed to the same default author.
To change the default author for accessing a local SVN repository, you will need to modify the repository's configuration file. This file is typically located in the repository's "hooks" folder and is named "pre-revprop-change". Before making any changes, it's always a good idea to create a backup of this file in case something goes wrong.
Next, open the "pre-revprop-change" file in a text editor and look for the line that specifies the default author. It will look something like this:
setenv SVN_REPOS_DEFAULT_AUTHOR "John Doe"
To change the default author, simply replace "John Doe" with the desired name. This can be the name of a specific developer, the company name, or any other identifier that you want to use. Once you have made the change, save the file and close it.
Now, when users make changes to the repository, the default author will be set to the new name you specified. This will help you keep track of who made which changes and make it easier to review and manage the repository's history.
It's worth noting that changing the default author will only affect future changes made to the repository. Any existing revisions will still have the old default author assigned to them. If you want to change the author for existing revisions, you will need to use the "svn propset" command, which allows you to set properties for specific revisions.
In addition to changing the default author, you can also set the default author to be blank. This means that users will be required to specify their author name for every change they make, which can be useful for keeping track of contributions from different developers.
In conclusion, changing the default author for accessing a local SVN repository is a simple process that can save you a lot of headaches in the long run. By setting a specific default author or leaving it blank, you can ensure that changes are properly attributed and make it easier to manage the repository's history. So next time you encounter this issue, remember these steps and make the necessary changes to keep your repository organized and accurate.
