=====
git-p4 supports two main modes: Importing from Perforce to a Git repository is
-done using "git-p4 sync". Submitting changes from Git back to Perforce is
-done using "git-p4 submit".
+done using "git-p4 sync" or "git-p4 rebase". Submitting changes from Git back
+to Perforce is done using "git-p4 submit".
Importing
=========
-The procedure is simple:
+You can simply start with
+
+ git-p4 clone //depot/path/project
+
+or
+
+ git-p4 clone //depot/path/project myproject
+
+This will create an empty git repository in a subdirectory called "project" (or
+"myproject" with the second command), import the head revision from the
+specified perforce path into a git "p4" branch, create a master branch off it
+and check it out. If you want the entire history (not just the head revision) then
+you can simply append a "@all" to the depot path:
+
+ git-p4 clone //depot/project/main@all myproject
+
+
+
+If you want more control you can also use the git-p4 sync command directly:
mkdir repo-git
cd repo-git
Support for Perforce integrations is still work in progress. Don't bother
trying it unless you want to hack on it :)
-
Incremental Imports
===================
git-p4 sync
-in your git repository.
+in your git repository. By default the "p4" branch is updated.
It is recommended to run 'git repack -a -d -f' from time to time when using
incremental imports to optimally combine the individual git packs that each
incremental import creates through the use of git-fast-import.
+Updating
+========
+
+A common working pattern is to fetch the latest changes from the Perforce depot
+and merge them with local uncommitted changes. The recommended way is to use
+git's rebase mechanism to preserve linear history. git-p4 provides a convenient
+
+ git-p4 rebase
+
+command that calls git-p4 sync followed by git rebase to rebase the current
+working branch.
+
Submitting
==========
After submitting you should sync your perforce import branch ("p4" or "origin")
from Perforce using git-p4's sync command.
+
+
+Example
+=======
+
+# Clone a repository
+ git-p4 clone //depot/path/project
+# Enter the newly cloned directory
+ cd project
+# Do some work...
+ vi foo.h
+# ... and commit locally to gi
+ git commit foo.h
+# In the meantime somebody submitted changes to the Perforce depot. Rebase your latest
+# changes against the latest changes in Perforce:
+ git-p4 rebase
+# Submit your locally committed changes back to Perforce
+ git-p4 submit
+# ... and synchronize with Perforce
+ git-p4 rebase
+
+