# NAME

git-annex migrate - switch data to different backend

# SYNOPSIS

git annex migrate `[path ...]`

git annex migrate --update

# DESCRIPTION

Changes the specified annexed files to use the default key-value backend
(or the one specified with `--backend`). Only files whose content
is currently present are migrated.

Note that the content is also still stored using the old keys after
migration. When possible, hard links are used to avoid that taking up
extra disk space. Use `git annex unused` to find and remove the old keys.

Normally, nothing will be done to specified files that are already using
the new backend. However, if a backend changes the information it uses to
construct a key, this can also be used to migrate files to use the new key
format.

# OPTIONS

* `--update`

  This updates the local repository for migrations that were performed
  elsewhere. Only new migrations since the last time this was run will
  be performed. 

  This does not modify the working tree, but only hard links
  (or in some cases copies) annex objects to their new keys.

  `git-annex pull` and `git-annex sync --content` automatically do this,
  unless the `annex.syncmigrations` config is set to false.

  Note that older versions of git-annex did not record migrations in a
  way that this can use. Migrations performed with those older versions
  had to be manually run in each clone of the repository.

* `--apply`

  This applies all recorded migrations to the local repository. It is the
  non-incremental form of `--update`.

  One situation where this can be useful is when `git-annex migrate
  --update` has been run, but since then un-migrated 
  objects have entered the repository. Using this option ensures that
  any such objects get migrated.

  Note that older versions of git-annex did not record migrations in a
  way that this can use. Migrations performed with those older versions
  had to be manually run in each clone of the repository.

* `--backend`

  Specify the new key-value backend to use for migrated data.

* `--force`

  Force migration of keys that are already using the new backend.

* file matching options
 
  The [[git-annex-matching-options]](1)
  can be used to specify files to migrate.

* Also the [[git-annex-common-options]](1) can be used.

* `--remove-size`

  Keys often include the size of their content, which is generally a useful
  thing. In fact, this command defaults to adding missing size information
  to keys in most migrations. With this option, the size information is
  removed instead.

  One use of this option is to convert URL keys that were added
  by `git-annex addurl --fast` to ones that would have been added if
  that command was run with the `--relaxed` option. Eg:

  	git-annex migrate --remove-size --backend=URL somefile

  To add back the size to an URL key, use this:

    git-annex migrate --backend=URL somefile

* `--json`

  Enable JSON output. This is intended to be parsed by programs that use
  git-annex. Each line of output is a JSON object.

* `--json-error-messages`

  Messages that would normally be output to standard error are included in
  the JSON instead.

# SEE ALSO

[[git-annex]](1)

[[git-annex-upgrade]](1)

[[git-annex-backend]](1)

# AUTHOR

Joey Hess <id@joeyh.name>

Warning: Automatically converted into a man page by mdwn2man. Edit with care.