<sect1 id="repo-convs-syncpaths">

    <title>Syncronizing Repository Paths</title>

    <para>  
        Once both master and auxiliar paths have been related in the
        repository, they shouldn't be changed except you absolutly
        need to do so. In this cases, when you need to change master
        or auxiliar paths, it is required that you also change the
        relation between them so as to retain their bond.  This
        process of keeping master and auxiliar paths
        <quote>connected</quote> between themselves is known as
        <emphasis>path syncronization</emphasis>.
    </para>
    
    <para>
        Path syncronization is required for automation scripts to know
        where to store final output, where to retrive translation
        messages from, and whatever information you might need to
        count with. If the relation between master paths and auxiliar
        paths is lost, there is no way for automation scripts to know
        where to retrive the information they need to work with or
        where to store the output information produced from it.  Path
        syncronization is the way we use through to organize and
        extend the information stored in the repository.
    </para>
    
    <para>
        Path syncronization involves both movement of files and
        replacement of content inside files.  Movement of files is
        related to actions like renaming files and directories inside
        the repository.  Replacement of content inside files is
        related to actions like replacing information (e.g., paths
        information) inside files in order to keep file contents and
        file locations consistent one another after a file movement.
    </para>

    <para>
        The order followed to syncronize path information is very
        important because the versioned nature of the files we are
        working with. When a renaming action needs to be performed
        inside the repository, we avoid making replacements inside
        files first and file movements later. This would demand two
        commit actions: one for the files' internal changes and
        another for the file movement itself.  Otherwise, we prefer to
        perform file movements first and files' internal replacements
        later.  This way it is possible to commit both changes as if
        they were just one.
    </para>
 
    <note>
    <para>
        There is no support for URLs actions inside
        <command>centos-art.sh</command> script.  The
        <command>centos-art.sh</command> script is designed to work
        with local files inside the working copy only. If you need to
        perform URL actions directly, use Subversion's commands
        instead.
    </para>
    </note>

    <para>
        At this moment there is no full implementation of path
        syncronization process inside <command>centos-art.sh</command>
        script and it is somthing we need to do oursleves. However,
        the <quote>texinfo</quote> backend of <code>help</code>
        functionality which provides a restricted implementation of
        path syncronization to this specific area of documentation
        through the <option>--copy</option>, <option>--delete</option>
        and <option>--rename</option> options you can take as
        reference to implement it in other areas.
    </para>
        
    <para>
        The plan for a full implementation of path syncronization
        would be to create individual restricted implementations like
        the one in <quote>texinfo</quote> backend for other areas that
        demand it and then, create a higher implmentation that
        combines them all as needed. This way, if we try to rename a
        repository directory the higher action will define which are
        all the restricted actions that should be performed in order
        to make the full path syncronization.
    </para>
        
    <para>
        For example, if the directory we are renaming is a master
        path, it is required to syncronize the related output and
        localization auxiliar paths. On the other hand, if the
        directory we are renaming through full path syncronization is
        an auxiliar path, it is required to determine first what is
        the related master path and later, perform the syncronization
        from master path to auxiliar paths as if the path provided
        would be the master path not the auxiliar path.  
    </para>

</sect1>