(Base) ClearCase FAQ: 1.2.16 If I mkelem of a Directory, which is a view private object, I get the "Cleartool Error:Can't create directory element because "directory" already exists." Help?

Short answer:

Rename your view private directory.

Discussion, insights

ClearCase does not support creating a directory element from an existing view private directory (as it does for creating a file element). The ct+mkdir man page (v7.0.1) clearly states:

: Converting view-private directories
You cannot create a directory element with the same name as an existing view-private file or directory, and you cannot use mkdir to convert an existing view-private directory structure into directory and file elements. To accomplish this task, use clearfsimport.

Note first that ClearCase::Wrapper offers a -recurse option to mkelem.

Otherwise, clearfsimport may well be run from view private storage in the vob: just use a second view.

Note: an alternative may be ClearCase::SyncTree.

-- MarcGirod - 04 Sep 2007