https://invisible-island.net/ded/sccs_tools/
putdelta - SCCS check-in utility
putdelta [options] [file-specifications]
Putdelta is a simple, easy to use interface to sccs (source code
control system). It checks into the sccs archive all files specified.
Putdelta uses the sccs utilities admin and delta to maintain versions
of a given source file in a dependent directory named "SCCS" It is more
than an integration of the admin and delta utilities, however:
o If the sccs archive directory does not already exist, putdelta
creates it.
o If the file has not been locked, putdelta creates a lock (i.e., a
"p." file). If a "p." file already exists, putdelta will attempt
to use the lock However, if the lock belongs to another user,
putdelta will not check-in the file.
o Putdelta retains the executable-mode of the file which is checked-
in That is, if it is a shell-script (and has a mode such as 755),
the mode of sccs "s." file is set to 555 The getdelta utility works
in the opposite fashion, setting the extracted file's mode to
correspond to that of the "s." file.
o Putdelta sets the "-n" option of delta, so that your file is not
deleted after check-in.
o The "s." file is post-processed by putdelta so that the check-in
date matches the file's modification date.
The last point is the fundamental advantage offered by putdelta. The
ordinary sccs methodology uses the current date as the check-in date
This works well only for large projects in which a central project
administrator is responsible for controlling the versions of source
files It does not work well for small projects, for which sccs's
primary advantage is its compact storage of multiple versions of a
file.
By using the file's modification date as a reference, you can more
easily back up to a meaningful version - by date, rather than version
number.
Putdelta integrates the essential functions used in the sccs check-in
process into one utility program.
Some options which you may specify to putdelta are passed through to
the underlying admin and delta utilities:
-s suppresses some of the messages generated by the sccs admin and
delta utilities describing the number of lines changed, etc.
-ytext specifies the change-history text. You will be prompted for
this if you do not supply it, in versions after the first, by
the delta utility.
Other options are handled directly by putdelta:
-b (binary) sets flags to ensure SCCS treats the file as binary
-f (force) creates a new delta even if no lock was made.
-k (keys) on the initial check-in, causes admin to require
keywords.
-n (no-op) shows actions, but does not perform them.
-rSID specify SCCS-sid in case of multiple pending deltas
Putdelta is designed to operate with the standard sccs utilities with a
minimum of fuss and bother It retains your working file after check-in
since that facilitates development In effect, it simply appends the
current version of each file which you specify onto the archive.
Environment variables imported by putdelta include:
SCCS_DIR
specifies the directory into which the sccs "s." files are
stored If no specified, putdelta assumes "SCCS".
TZ is the prevailing timezone, which putdelta uses to set the
check-in date in the "s." file Putdelta sets the timezone to
EST5EDT, in part to avoid conflict with get's date checking.
Putdelta is a single binary file, written in C It runs in a POSIX
environment.
Provide a mechanism for inserting dummy version numbers so that
putdelta can bump the release number (for genuine major releases)
Currently, the SID's are restricted to 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc.
Thomas Dickey (Software Productivity Consortium).
sccsput, sccsget, getdelta, admin(1), delta(1)
2025-09-28 PUTDELTA(1)