Today I came across new situation but this happened when I converted my code from Struts 1.2.8 to Struts 1.3.

While converting I have to replace lot of jar files and other configuration files in the source code and this is well maintained by Clearcase SCM. I have deleted one of directory and pasted again with new libraries in it. I should not delete a directory instead should have deleted contents in the directory and paste new libraries in it.

Because of this deletion of directory Clearcase made entries in the lost+found folder in the VOB database. So when I try to deliver the content to the Integration stream it is not allowing. Once I delete the contents in the lost+found folder in the VOB database with the help of Clearcase Admin then I was able to deliver content successfully. I have to study all the materials about how things get into lost+found folder when we do work on source code. It is very interesting to find our there are some couple of ways where we can end up in this situation.

Some of the notes about it

The lost+found directory

Every VOB includes a special directory element, lost+found, which is used to hold elements that become stranded when they are not cataloged in any directory version in the VOB.

An element can become stranded when you do any of the following:

• Create new elements, and then cancel the checkout of directory in which they were created
• Delete the last reference to an element by using the rmname command
• Delete the last reference to an element by deleting a directory version with the rmver, rmbranch, or rmelem command

When an element is moved to lost+found, its name changes to this form:

element_leaf_name.UUID

For example, an element named util.c could have the name util.c.41a00000bcaa11caacd0080069021c7.

The lost+found directory has several unique properties:

• It cannot be checked out.
• Its contents can be modified even though it is not checked out.
• No branches can be created within it.

To conserve disk space, periodically clean up the lost+found directory:

• If you need an element in lost+found, move it to another directory by using cleartool mv.
• You can use cleartool rmelem to remove elements from lost+found if you are sure that they are no longer needed. See the rmelem reference page for additional cautions about using rmelem.