git repository export and import to zip file or folder

Question

There are some similar posts on SO related to git repository export and import, but all answers are not complete. So I am asking separate question here.

I am using EGIT in eclipse to work on git SCM.

How I can export the git repository to a zip file/folder(with all branches, tags and history) and import the same repository back in Eclipse?

I tried,

git archive HEAD --format=zip >~/abc.zip but while importing back in eclipse its not working.

Are there any other ways for importing and exporting git repositories?

Edit

After looking @VonC answer, I did this

git bundle create ~/abc.bundle --all

git bundle list-heads ~/abc.bundle

  refs/heads/master
  refs/remotes/origin/branch1
  refs/remotes/origin/branch1
  refs/remotes/origin/branch3
  refs/remotes/origin/master 
  refs/remotes/origin/branch4
  .....
  refs/tags/tag1
  refs/tags/tag2
  refs/tags/tag3
   ....

git clone -b master ~/abc.bundle ~/newrepo/xyz/

But when I tried to import this git repo in eclipse I am getting only master branch as while cloning I used master. Is it possible to clone all the branches in a single command?

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

2

Another way, which actualy does preserve the full history, is git bundle (see "Backup a Local Git Repository").

cd /path/to/your/repo
git bundle create ../repo.bundle --all

However, you will have to clone it again before EGit can see the exported/imported repo, because EGit doesn't support yet bundle files as repo.

when I tried to import this git repo in eclipse I am getting only master branch as while cloning I used master. Is it possible to clone all the branches in a single command?

Do a git branch -avvv in your cloned repo (the one cloned from the bundle).
You should see all your remote branches (origin/xxx).

Eclipse should then be able to list and make a new branch based on one of those remote tracking branches as in "How do I create a proper new local and remote branch combination in EGit?".

To restore all the branches from the bundle, see "restore all refs from git bundle":
You need to mirror clone it.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

Community

1
1

answered Feb 24 '14 at 10:12

VonC

1,262,500
529
4,410
5,250

Edited my post, added details – Chandrayya G K Feb 25 '14 at 11:34
@ChandrayyaGK I meant `git branch -avvv`, not `git br` (which is an alias of mine) – VonC Feb 25 '14 at 12:42
No not works. Executed `git branch -avvv` then `git branch -a` the results are:
`master remotes/origin/HEAD -> origin/master remotes/origin/master` – Chandrayya G K Feb 25 '14 at 12:45
@ChandrayyaGK then mirror clone it: that `clone --mirror` will have all the remote tracking branches in it. see http://stackoverflow.com/a/12003661/6309. – VonC Feb 25 '14 at 13:27

git repository export and import to zip file or folder

Edit

1 Answers1