What does these below code mean?

Question

element * CHECKEDOUT
element  /test_ari/karthik/...  ... /karthik_omna/LATEST
element  /test_ari/karthik/...  /main/2  -mkbranch karthik_omna
element *  /main/LATEST 

I have written the above code and it worked so right.I am so happy for that.But i want to clear somethings from u guys. What does that 3 dots mean in this syntax

 /test_ari/karthik/... 

and the other 3 dots means

 ... /karthik_omna/LATEST

And last question but it got great importance. Why should we always use * CHECKEDOUT in the beginning? what happens if we dont use it?

Answer 1

/test_ari/karthik/... 

It means that the selection rule which follows (ie .../karthik_omna/LATEST ) will apply to the karthik directory, and to all the subdirectories and files, recursively.
If the selection path had been /test_ari/karthik/* (star instead of three dots), the selection rule would have applied to the subdirectories and files, but not to the karthik directory itself

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.../karthik_omna/LATEST

This is a selection rule instructing ClearCase to select the LATEST version of the branch karthik_omna , without worrying on top of what other branch karthik_omna has been created.
If the selection rule had been (for example) /main/karthik_omna/LATEST , it would have selected the LATEST version of that branch only if said branch was created on top of ' main '.
Contrary to the previous ' ... ', there is no ' * ' for a selection rule.
( */karthik_omna/LATEST doesn't exist)

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As I explained in " How to create a branch ", selection rules are read in order and the first one that fits make ClearCase apply it (and ignore the others) for a particular file or directory.

This is why you will always find:

element * CHECKEDOUT

as the first rule, because when you notify ClearCase of your intention to modify that file, it (the file) acquires a special version called CHECKEDOUT which needs to be selected in order for you to be able to modify and then check-in that file.
If that rule was too far down below, ClearCase might select another version, and you wouldn't be able to check-in anything since that file would not be considered checked-out in your view.