Use the same workspace from different computers

By default, you can only use a workspace on the computer that is specified by the Host: field. If you want to use the same workspace on multiple computers with different platforms, delete the Host: entry and set the AltRoots: field in the client specification. You can specify a maximum of two alternate workspace roots. The locations must be visible from all computers that will be using them, for example through NFS or Samba mounts.

Helix Server compares the current working directory against the main Root: first, and then against the two AltRoots: if specified. The first root to match the current working directory is used. If no roots match, the main root is used.

Note

If you are using a Windows directory in any of your workspace roots, specify the Windows directory as your main client Root: and specify your other workspace root directories in the AltRoots: field.

In the example below, if user bruno’s current working directory is located under /usr/bruno, Helix Server uses the UNIX path as his workspace root, rather than c:\bruno_ws. This approach allows bruno to use the same client specification for both UNIX and Windows development.

Client: bruno_ws
Owner:  bruno
Description:
        Created by bruno.
Root:   c:\bruno_ws
AltRoots:
        /usr/bruno/

To find out which client workspace root is in effect, issue the p4 info command and check the Client root: field.

If you edit text files in the same workspace from different platforms, ensure that the editors and settings you use preserve the line endings. For details about line-endings in cross-platform settings, see Configure line-ending settings.