TortoiseSVN The coolest Interface to (Sub)Version Control

When a version controlled file is renamed in Explorer, why can't you offer to rename in Subversion as well?

Firstly, we cannot access the explorer rename command as it is not part of the TortoiseSVN shell extension.

Secondly, even if we could find a way around that limitation, it would not be desirable. There are occasions when you want to rename only in explorer. Here are 2 examples:

• You have made some changes to a file. You need to revert to a known working version so you can get a bugfix out, but you want to keep a copy of the changed file. The easiest way is simply to rename the changed file, then update your working copy, allowing Subversion to bring back the missing file for you.
• You want to unversion a file, ie. delete it from Subversion, but keep the file. The easiest way is to follow these steps:
  1. Rename the file, eg. MyFile.cpp to MyFile.bak.cpp.
  2. Commit the parent folder, making sure the missing file (MyFile.cpp) is checked for deletion.
  3. Rename the file again (MyFile.bak.cpp to MyFile.cpp).

TortoiseSVN 1.5.0 will have the ability to 'repair' a move/rename which was done without using the Subversion commands. Repairing works by selecting two files where one is unversioned and the other missing, then choose "repair move" from the context menu.