---
name: "cvs-switchroot"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cvs"
version: "2:1.12.13+real-30"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cvs-switchroot"
---

# cvs-switchroot(1)

change repository or tag in a cvs working copy

## NAME

**cvs-switchroot** – change repository or tag in a cvs working copy

## SYNOPSIS

**cvs-switchroot** \[**-T**\] *newroot* \[*file ...*\]

**cvs-switchroot** \[**-T**\] - *srcpath* \[*file ...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **cvs-switchroot** utility manipulates a CVS working copy directly, modifying the information stored in the administrative subdirectory and saving space by hardlinking if possible.

If the **-T** option is given, the sticky tag is operated on, otherwise, the repository path (CVSROOT).

The information (Tag or Root) is set to the same as in *srcpath* if the first non-option argument *newroot* is a sole dash (‘-’), the literal value *newroot* otherwise.

## EXAMPLES

Change all *Root* information in the current sandbox to */cvs*:

```
$ cvs-switchroot /cvs .
```

Set all roots in the current working directory and all its subdirectories to the *Root* of the parent directory:

```
$ cvs-switchroot - .. .
```

Hardlink the *Tag* information in the current working directory, for example */usr/src*, and */usr/ports* with each other:

```
$ cvs-switchroot -T - . . /usr/ports
```

## SEE ALSO

[cvs(1)](/cvs/1.md)

## HISTORY

**cvs-switchroot** has existed in the MirBSD source tree since 2005. It was added to Debian's cvs package in 2011.

## CAVEATS

**cvs-switchroot** depends on **mksh**.