How to Automatically Display SVN Revision Number in ASP.NET Applications

When you’re working on an ASP.NET project, you might have noticed that some applications display the Subversion (SVN) revision number in the footer. If you’ve ever wondered how to achieve this functionality, you’re in the right place! In this post, we’ll explore how to automatically display the SVN revision number in your ASP.NET application. This is not only a neat feature, but it can also be helpful for debugging or version tracking.

Understanding SVN Keywords

  1. What are SVN Keywords?

    • SVN Keywords are special placeholders that are replaced with specific information when the files are committed to the repository.
    • The $Rev$ keyword specifically represents the revision number of the file.
  2. Using svn:keywords Property

    • To enable the revision number functionality, your file must have the svn:keywords property set to “Rev Id”.
    • This tells SVN to replace the $Rev$ keyword in your file with the current revision number each time a commit is made.

Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing SVN Revision Display

Step 1: Set the svn:keywords Property

You need to set the svn:keywords property on your desired file (e.g., an ASP.NET page).

  • Open your terminal or command prompt where SVN is installed.

  • Navigate to the directory where your file is located.

  • Execute the following command:

    svn propset svn:keywords "Rev Id" YourFileName.aspx
    

Step 2: Add the $Rev$ Keyword to Your File

Next, you will need to add the $Rev$ keyword in the file where you wish to display the revision number.

  • Open the file (e.g., YourFileName.aspx) in your editor.

  • Include the following line where you want the revision information to appear:

    <!-- Revision: $Rev$ -->
    

Step 3: Verify the Changes

After committing your changes, you will want to verify that the revision number is displayed correctly.

  • Commit your changes by executing:

    svn commit -m "Added Revision number display"
    
  • Check the file after the update to ensure that the revision number is reflected appropriately.

Additional Resources

For further insights or if you encounter issues, refer to the following Stack Overflow Question, which provides community insights and solutions for displaying SVN revision numbers across various programming languages.

Conclusion

Implementing an automatic display of the SVN revision number in your ASP.NET application is a straightforward process. By utilizing SVN keywords and following the steps outlined above, you can enhance your project with version tracking capabilities. This not only helps you keep track of changes but also aids anyone interacting with your application to know exactly which version they are viewing.

By adding this feature into your ASP.NET application, you can ensure that your development team is informed about the current revision, which is crucial for effective collaboration and debugging.

Now, get started on this simple enhancement and make your ASP.NET applications more informative!