32.1.5.2 VC Status Commands

C-x v l

Display revision control state and change history.

To view the detailed revision control status and history of a file, type C-x v l (vc-print-log). This pops up a special buffer named ‘*vc-change-log*’, in a new window, that displays the history of changes to the current file, including the text of the log entries. The point is centered at the revision of the file that is currently being visited.

In the ‘*vc-change-log*’ buffer, you can use the following keys to move between the logs of revisions and of files, to view past revisions, to modify change comments, to view annotations and to view diffs:

p

Move to the previous revision-item in the buffer. (Revision entries in the log buffer are usually in reverse-chronological order, so the previous revision-item usually corresponds to a newer revision.) A numeric prefix argument is a repeat count.

n

Move to the next revision-item (which most often corresponds to the previous revision of the file). A numeric prefix argument is a repeat count.

P

Move to the log of the previous file, when the logs of multiple files are in the log buffer (see VC Directory Mode). Otherwise, just move to the beginning of the log. A numeric prefix argument is a repeat count, so C-u 10 P would move backward 10 files.

N

Move to the log of the next file, when the logs of multiple files are in the log buffer (see VC Directory Mode). It also takes a numeric prefix argument as a repeat count.

a

Annotate the revision indicated by the current line.

e

Modify the change comment displayed at point. Note that not all VC systems support modifying change comments.

f

Visit the revision indicated at the current line, like typing C-x v ~ and specifying this revision's ID (see Old Revisions).

d

Display the diff (see Comparing Files) between the revision indicated at the current line and the next earlier revision. This is useful to see what actually changed in the file when the revision indicated on the current line was committed.

D

Display the changeset diff (see Comparing Files) between the revision indicated at the current line and the next earlier revision. This is useful to see all the changes to all files that the revision indicated on the current line did when it was committed.