tortoisesvn - What is the correct way to restore a deleted file from SVN?

Question

I deleted a file from a repo and now want to put it back. The best I can figure out is to:

• update to the revision before the delete
• copy the files elsewhere
• update to head
• copy the files back
• add them
• commit

That just smells bad and it looses all history to boot. There has got to be a better way to do this. I have already looked in The SVN Book but didn't find anything and am now looking down the SVN tag list.

Answer 1

The problem with doing an svn merge as suggested by Sean Bright is that is reintroduces other changes made in the same revision as the deletion. An svn copy is a more targeted operation that will only affect the deleted files.

Using Tortoise SVN you can resurrect a file that has been deleted from your working copy directory and from later SVN revisions, via a svn copy as follows:

• Browse to the working copy folder that previously contained the file.
• Right click on the folder in Explorer, go to TortoiseSVN -> Show log.
• Right click on the revision number just prior to the revision that deleted the file and select "Browse repository".
• Right click on the deleted file and select "Copy to working copy..." and save.

The deleted file will now be in the working copy folder. To re-add it back to SVN, right click on the restored file and select SVN Commit.

NB: This method will preserve the previous history of the restored file, however to see the prior history in the TortoiseSVN log you need to make sure "Stop on copy/rename" is unchecked in the Log messages dialog.