.gitignore is ignored by Git

Question

My .gitignore file seems to be being ignored by Git - could the .gitignore file be corrupt? Which file format, locale or culture does Git expect?

My .gitignore:

# This is a comment debug.log nbproject/ 

Output from git status:

# On branch master # Your branch is ahead of 'origin/master' by 1 commit. # # Untracked files: #   (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed) # #       debug.log #       nbproject/ nothing added to commit but untracked files present (use "git add" to track) 

I would like debug.log and nbproject/ not to appear in the untracked files list.

Where should I start looking to fix this?

Answer 1

Even if you haven't tracked the files so far, Git seems to be able to "know" about them even after you add them to .gitignore.

WARNING: First commit or stash your current changes, or you will lose them.

Then run the following commands from the top folder of your Git repository:

git rm -r --cached . git add . git commit -m "fixed untracked files" 

Answer 2

If it seems like Git isn't noticing the changes you made to your .gitignore file, you might want to check the following points:

• There might be a global .gitignore file that might interfere with your local one

• When you add something into a .gitignore file, try this:

  git add [uncommitted changes you want to keep] && git commit git rm -r --cached . git add . git commit -m "fixed untracked files" 

• If you remove something from a .gitignore file, and the above steps maybe don't work,if you found the above steps are not working, try this:

  git add -f [files you want to track again] git commit -m "Refresh removing files from .gitignore file."  // For example, if you want the .java type file to be tracked again, // The command should be: //     git add -f *.java