How to display latest revision in a file?

Question

I'm wondering how do you deal with displaying release revision number when pushing live new versions of your app?

You can use $Rev$ in a file to get latest revision, but only after you update the file.

What if I want to update a string in one file every time I change any file in the repository/directory?

Is there a way?

Answer 1

The best way to do this is have a build script for releases that will determine the revision number using svnversion or svn info and insert it into a file. It's always helpful to have a script which:

1. checks out a clean copy of the source into an empty directory
2. uses svnversion or something similar to compute a build number
3. compiles source into a product
4. creates an archive (zip or tarball or whatever) of the product
5. cleans up: deletes everything but the archive

Then you have a one-step process to create a release with an easily identifiable version. It also helps you avoid giving someone a build from your own working copy, which may have changes that were never checked into source control.

Answer 2

There is a simple tool in TortoiseSVN named SubWCRev.exe. It takes revision from path and create file from your own template. You can use it as prebuild command.

Answer 3

Did you try to use hooks? They work on server-side only but may do the trick. Otherwise I would just call a script do update the revision if the keywords aren't suitable for you.