Sometimes you need to check out only certain parts of a directory tree. For this you can checkout the top folder (the action Check Out of Repository view) and then update recursively only the needed directories (the action Update of Working Copy view). Each directory now understands the notion of depth which has four possible values:
Recursive (infinity) - Updates all descendant folders and files recursively.
Immediate children - Updates the directory including direct child folders and files but does not populate the child folders.
File children only (files) - Updates the directory including only child files without the child folders.
This folder only (empty) - Updates only the selected directory without updating any children.
Current depth - for some operations you can use as depth the current depth of the resource from working copy. This is the depth of directories from the working copy, it can have one of the values defined above. This is the depth value defined in a previous checkout or update operation.
The sparse checked out directories are marked in the Working Copy view with a marker corresponding to the depth value as follows:
Recursive (infinity) - This is the default value and it is has no mark.
Immediate children (immediates) - The directory is marked with a purple bubble in the top left corner
.File children only (files) - The directory is marked with a blue bubble in the top left corner
.This folder only (empty) - The directory is marked with a gray bubble in the top left corner
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The depth information is also presented in the Information view and the tool tip displayed when hovering over the directory in the Working copy view.
This feature requires the svn client to be 1.5 or above and will work most efficiently if the server is 1.5 or above. The client will work also with a 1.4 server or lower but will be less efficient.