svn: external failed directory error Can't obtain lock on non-directory 'directory'

Question

I have just loaded some old files and directories of an old project onto my PC from SVN to debug an issue.

I am getting the following when trying to update the working directory:

external failed directory error Can't obtain lock on non-directory 'directory'

I have tried svn cleanup as suggested by some posts but to no avail.

Anyone got any pointers as to how I might resolve this?

Answer 1

It appears if I rename the existing directory and then get the code to a new directory the problem is solved.

Now I understand what those other posts meant.

Answer 2

I cannot really tell what exactly was the problem, but for me the following workaround worked: Remove (or rename if you changed files) the folder in question. Update -> The Folder will be recreated.

If necessary copy the files that you changed before.

Answer 3

I had the same error. The problem was that the directory containing the resources already existed in the path in which it was pointing, it has to be deleted and the svn automatically creates it.

Not works:

Existing directories on destiny path:

version\\

• ext1
• ext2

Path that will receive the external:

version\\\\ext1

Source path of the external:

^/project1/resource/ext1

It works:

Existing directories on destiny path:

version\\

• ext2

Path that will receive the external:

version\\\\ext1

Source path of the external:

^/project1/resource/ext1

Answer 4

This happens when in a directory external the .svn directory is deleted. This can happen for example when a script secretly deletes the local directory and replaces it by an exact copy without the ".svn" directory.

So if you delete this look-alike/doppelganger and restore the original from repo evertyhing is OK.

If you are known to ClearCase this effect is called an "eclipse".

Answer 5

我在执行SVN更新之前没有创建外部引用的目录，从而解决了错误。