gitfaq: files in .gitignore are tracked

index 1cf83df118..11d9bac859 100644 --- a/Documentation/gitfaq.txt +++ b/Documentation/gitfaq.txt @@ -223,6 +223,16 @@ a file checked into the repository which is a template or set of defaults which can then be copied alongside and modified as appropriate. This second, modified file is usually ignored to prevent accidentally committing it. +[[files-in-.gitignore-are-tracked]] +I asked Git to ignore various files, yet they are still tracked:: + A `gitignore` file ensures that certain file(s) which are not + tracked by Git remain untracked. However, sometimes particular + file(s) may have been tracked before adding them into the + `.gitignore`, hence they still remain tracked. To untrack and + ignore files/patterns, use `git rm --cached <file/pattern>` + and add a pattern to `.gitignore` that matches the <file>. + See linkgit:gitignore[5] for details. + Hooks -----