Working with Source Control 

In addition to storing models in a local (per-user) repository, Visual Composer enables you to store your models in a supported source control system, or in a shared repository.

To use the Design Time Repository (DTR) as your source control system, you must configure the DTR to work with Visual Composer. For more information, see Configuring Visual Composer to Work with NWDI.

The DTR is part of the SAP NetWeaver Development Infrastructure (NWDI). The SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment (SAP NetWeaver CE) does not come with an installation of the NWDI, but you can use the functionality of NWDI if you have access to a system with an already installed NWDI. For more information about the DTR, see Working with the Design Time Repository.

Storing models in a source control system enables you to activate version control on the models that you and other users create. If you do not have a source control system installed and configured to work with Visual Composer, a shared repository is provided by default. The shared repository enables different users to access models stored in it, and provides basic check in and check out functionality (without version control).

After a model is stored in a source control system or shared repository, you and other users can check the model out for editing or open it for read-only review.

For more information, see:

·        Adding a Development Component to Source Control

·        Checking In a Model

·        Checking Out a Model

·        Reverting to the Last Checked In Version of a Model

·        Synchronizing a Model

 

Guidelines for Working with Source Control

Following are some useful guidelines to keep in mind when working with source control:

·        We recommend that you develop a model in the local repository until your model is ready to be shared with other users and can be reused in other models. You should then check it in to the source control system.

·        To modify models stored in the source control system, you first check out the specific models that you want to modify. When you have finished, you check in all of the models that you checked out.

·        To add models to the source control system, you check in the development component together with all of the models inside it. You cannot add individual models to the source control. This prevents problems that may occur when a checked-in model references a model that is not yet checked in.

·        When reusing components in other models, you can reuse models that are:

○       Stored in the same local development component.

○       Stored in different development components (but the same software component), only if they are checked in to the source control system or shared repository.

·        When you add a development component to source control, all of the models in that development component are automatically added and checked in to the source control system.

·        When you open a model that is not checked out, or a model that is checked out to another user, it opens in read-only mode.