Shell Integration

SmartSVN offers a shell integration to have the SVN functionality of SmartSVN also present in certain parts of GUI shells, like in file dialogs. The shell integration is currently present on Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS X. It is only available when SmartSVN is running.

Commands

From the shell's context menu, there are the most important SVN commands available for locally versioned files and directories. Performing commands from the shell's context menu results in the same dialogs and windows as if performing the commands from the Project Window. For details regarding the commands refer to Commands.

For commands performed from the shell, the same environmental settings are used as when performing them from the Project Window. This especially implies the Project Settings, if for the current working copy directory a corresponding project exists. If no matching Project can be found, SmartSVN will use the Default Settings.

From the context menu, use Open Project (or Open SmartSVN if no file/directory is selected) to launch the Project Window and open the corresponding project.

Tip

For the command icons, the icon files within lib/icons in the installation directory of SmartSVN are used. The names are corresponding to the command names. For every command, there is a default icon and a grayed version, which has an additional -g in its name. If you prefer, you can replace these icons.

Overlay Icons

The overlay icons show the SVN states for the corresponding files and directories. Currently, overlay icons are only present on Windows. Because the number of possible overlay icons is limited by the operating system, only the most important SVN states have a special overlay icon, see Overlay Icons for details. Versioned, but unchanged files and directories do not have a special overlay icon. For all other SVN states, the modified icon is used.

Tip

For the overlay icons, the icon files within lib/icons in the installation directory of SmartSVN are used. The names are corresponding to the States used in Overlay Icons. If you prefer, you can replace these icons.

The availability of overlay icons as well as commands can be configured in the Preferences.

Server Mode

To provide the shell integration without requiring SmartSVN actually being open, SmartSVN can be started with the --server-mode argument. This will just start up the core process and bring up the tray icon, if present.

Windows Shell Integration

The shell integration adds overlay icons to directory and file views of Windows and SVN commands to the context menu for directories and files. You will especially see them for the Windows Explorer, but also for other software which e.g. uses the native file dialogs of Windows.

Installation

You can choose to enable the shell integration for the installation of SmartSVN, when using the MSI installers. It's also recommended to have SmartSVN automatically be started with the system startup, so the shell integration is available immediately. The installers offer a corresponding option which will add SmartSVN to the Autostart section, starting SmartSVN in server mode.

Uninstallation

The shell integration will be uninstalled together with SmartSVN. You can also uninstall the shell integration independently from the Control Panel, Software, using Repair there.

Mac OS X Finder integration

The Finder integration lets you perform SVN commands in the Finder using the context menu.

Installation

On the first start, SmartSVN asks whether to install the Finder integration. If you choose to install it, SmartSVN will create a symbolic link ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items/SmartSVN CM.plugin. If you choose not to install, you can install it later by selecting the option Integrate in Finder on the Shell Integration page of the Preferences.

If the installation by SmartSVN itself fails for some reason, you can install the Finder integration yourself. If the folder ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items does not exist yet, create it. Right click the SmartSVN application in the Finder and select Show Package Contents. Copy the SmartSVN CM.plugin from within the SmartSVN application to the folder ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items. Log out and relogin again.

Uninstallation

Unselect the option Integrate in Finder on the Finder Integration page of the Preferences.

To manually uninstall the Finder integration, just delete ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items/SmartSVN CM.plugin and log out and relogin again.

Automatic start at login

The Finder integration will only work when SmartSVN is running. The easiest way to do that automatically, is to let SmartSVN be launched at login. Just right click the SmartSVN dock icon and select Open at Login. Alternatively, you can use the Accounts panel in the System Preferences to define SmartSVN as Login Item. Note, that the Hide option has no effect. If SmartSVN is defined as Login Item, it will be started in server mode.

Tray Icon

By default, SmartSVN keeps running even when all frames have been closed. To have SmartSVN still accessible, a tray icon is used. It's available for Microsoft Windows, most Linux desktop managers and other operating systems for which tray icons are supported.

From the context menu of the tray icon, use New Project Window to open a new Project Window, New Repository Browser to open a new Repository Browser or Show Transactions to open the Transactions frame. Open the Preferences or information About SmartSVN. To exit SmartSVN, use Exit SmartSVN.

Note

On Mac OS SmartSVN is permanently available when SmartSVN is running, even when all frames are closed. In this case it has a reduced menu bar, including the Window menu.

The tray icon shows the progress of currently processing SVN operations which have been invoked from the shell extensions. It also shows the presence of new revisions for the Transactions frame.

You can disable the tray icon in the Preferences by deselecting Nest in System Tray. In this case, SmartSVN will exit once the last frame has been closed.

Note

The Nest in System Tray option is not regarded when starting SmartSVN in server mode.