Changes

These libraries are shared and synchronized amongst all of SSI's Altium users using a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Version_control version control] technology called Subversion (typically "SVN"). SVN allows a group of folders (known as a "repository") to be shared selectively between SSI's Altium users, while tracking changes between versions of the files and allowing users to decide when they share changes they've made with the rest of the SSI userbase (sharing your changes is known as "committing" those changes). SSI's SVN is hosted on a server in ES3.  

These libraries are shared and synchronized amongst all of SSI's Altium users using a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Version_control version control] technology called Subversion (typically "SVN"). SVN allows a group of folders (known as a "repository") to be shared selectively between SSI's Altium users, while tracking changes between versions of the files and allowing users to decide when they share changes they've made with the rest of the SSI userbase (sharing your changes is known as "committing" those changes). SSI's SVN is hosted on a server in ES3.  

==A Brief Motivational Note==

==A Brief Motivational Note==

===Installing SVN===

===Installing SVN===

You will need SVN software to use the SSI Altium repository. The recommended choice is to install [http://tortoisesvn.net/ Tortoise SVN] (Windows-only). Mac and Linux users who want SVN access from within their home OS are recommended to install [https://http://www.smartsvn.com/ SmartSVN], though we will not discuss its usage in this article.

You will need SVN software to use the SSI Altium repository. The recommended choice is to install [http://tortoisesvn.net/ Tortoise SVN] (Windows-only). There are solutions for Mac and Linux users as well, though none quite as streamlined as TortoiseSVN; many Linux and Max users use the command line (Terminal) to handle SVN.

TortoiseSVN will run persistently on your computer and allow you to work with files synchronized with the SVN. As shown at right, TortoiseSVN will appear as a menu available when right clicking on files or folders. We will introduce the most useful of these commands in this article; several more are discussed [[Using TortoiseSVN|here]] (recommended reading ''after'' completing this guide).

TortoiseSVN will run persistently on your computer and allow you to work with files synchronized with the SVN. As shown at right, TortoiseSVN will appear as a menu available when right clicking on files or folders. We will introduce the most useful of these commands in this article; several more are discussed [[Using TortoiseSVN|here]] (recommended reading ''after'' completing this guide).

[[File:SVNCheckout.png|thumb|200px|right|Make sure you're right clicking on the folder you just created.]]

[[File:SVNCheckout.png|thumb|200px|right|Make sure you're right clicking on the folder you just created.]]

[[File:SVNCheckout2.png|thumb|200px|right|Your checkout window should look very similar to this.]]

[[File:SVNCheckout2.png|thumb|200px|right|Your checkout window should look very similar to this.]]

Find a convenient location on your computer (i.e. your desktop) to create a folder that will host all of the shared SSI Altium files. Create a new folder there (my folder is called "SVN-SSI-Altium," though "altium-core" is what the folder is called on the server). Right click on the folder, and select "SVN Checkout" (see right). A window should pop up (see right) showing a URL to download files from and a location on your computer where the files will be downloaded. Verify that the target on your computer is where you intend and set the URL of the repository to {{altium-repo}}, and click OK. You will then be prompted for your SVN login - this will be your '''username''' and password Slacked to you after you requested them. Enter these, click OK, and your computer should begin to download the Altium libraries. These should take less than a minute to download on campus.

Find a convenient location on your computer (i.e. your desktop) to create a folder that will host all of the shared SSI Altium files. Create a new folder there (my folder is called "SVN-SSI-Altium," though "altium-core" is what the folder is called on the server). Right click on the folder, and select "SVN Checkout" (see right). A window should pop up (see right) showing a URL to download files from and a location on your computer where the files will be downloaded. Verify that the target on your computer is where you intend and set the URL of the repository to {{altium-repo}}, and click OK. You will then likely be prompted for your SVN login - this will be your '''username''' and password Slacked to you after you requested them. You do not need credentials to download the libraries on campus, but you do need credentials to push changes to the libraries (regardless of where you are). Enter credentials if you have them, click OK, and your computer should begin to download the Altium libraries. These should take less than a minute to download on campus.

===Installing Altium===

===Installing Altium===