File Operations

Use the query_files and modify_files tools to work with files in P4 depots.

Querying Files

Modifying Files

Common Workflows

Edit and submit a file

1. modify_changelists → create a pending changelist
2. modify_files → edit to open the file in the changelist
3. Make your changes locally
4. modify_changelists → submit to commit

Add new files

1. modify_changelists → create a pending changelist
2. Create the file(s) locally in your workspace
3. modify_files → add to mark them for add
4. modify_changelists → submit

Investigate file history

1. query_files → history to see revision log
2. query_files → diff to compare specific revisions
3. query_files → annotations to see per-line authorship
4. query_files → content to read a specific revision

Find files by name or content

1. query_files → search with a wildcard pattern (e.g., *.py) to find files by name
2. query_files → grep with a text pattern to find files containing specific content
3. Use query_files → content to read files found from search results

Sync and resolve conflicts

1. modify_files → sync to get latest from depot
2. If conflicts exist, modify_files → resolve to handle them
3. modify_changelists → submit when resolved

Reconcile offline edits

1. Make changes outside of P4 (e.g., IDE edits without opening files first)
2. modify_files → reconcile to detect and open changed files

Best Practices

• Always open files for edit before modifying them so changes are tracked.
• Use reconcile if you forgot to open files first — it detects offline edits, adds, and deletes.
• Use diff to verify changes before submitting.
• Use annotations to understand who last changed each line (useful for debugging).
• Specify changelist when opening files to keep changes organized.
• When moving files, both source and target must be in the same changelist.