2.3 Invoking co

rcs co [options] file …
(or “co” instead of “rcs co”)

The co command retrieves a revision from the RCS file, writing a new working file. This operation is also known as “checkout”.

-f[rev]

Force overwrite of working file.

-I[rev]

-q[rev]

See Misc common options.

-p[rev]

Write to stdout instead of the working file.

-r[rev]

Normal checkout.

-l[rev]

Like -r, but also lock.

-u[rev]

Like -l, but unlock.

-M[rev]

Reset working file mtime (relevant for -l, -u).

Multiple flags in -{fIlMpqru} may be given, except for -r, -l, -u, which are mutually exclusive. See Revision options.

-ksubst

See Substitution mode option.

-ddate

-zzone

See Date option. Select latest before or on date.

-jjoins

Merge using joins, a list of rev:rev pairs. NB: This option is obsolete (see rcsmerge).

-sstate

See Misc common options. Select matching state.

-S

Enable "self-same" mode. In this mode, the owner of a lock is unimportant, just that it exists. Effectively, this prevents you from checking out the same revision twice.

$ whoami
ttn

$ co -l -f z
RCS/z,v  -->  z
revision 1.1 (locked)
done

$ co -S -l -f z
RCS/z,v  -->  z
co: RCS/z,v: Revision 1.1 is already locked by ttn.

-T

Preserve the modification time on the RCS file even if it changes because a lock is added or removed.

-wwho

Select matching login who.

-V

-Vn

-xsuff

See Misc common options.