Remove a file from a git repository

Question

I have a problem removing a file from my git repository. In order to demonstrate: In an empty directory perform:

git init echo "A" > A.txt echo "B" > B.txt git add . git commit -a -m "1. version" echo "C" > C.txt git add . git commit -a -m "2. version" echo "A" >> A.txt git add . git commit -a -m "3. version"

Now I would like to remove the file "A.txt" completely from the repository (as if it had never existed):

rm A.txt git log --pretty=oneline --branches -- A.txt git filter-branch --index-filter \ 'git rm --cached --ignore-unmatch A.txt' \ -- --all

which gives output:

3ce037a722c2f382a9da42f73577628a639cae25 3. version 43a12da356ad3643657e6bb06259c84f78b82bed 1. version Cannot rewrite branches: You have unstaged changes.

Then git status gives:

# On branch master # Changes not staged for commit: # (use "git add/rm <file>..." to update what will be committed) # (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory) # # deleted: A.txt # no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

What am I doing wrong here? How can I remove the file A.txt completely?

Daniel Hilgarth · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-16 10:46:57Z

6

The problem is the rm A.txt you are performing. This is the unstaged change git reports. Simply move this line after the git filter-branch.

answered Sep 16, 2013 at 10:46

Daniel Hilgarth

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Håkon Hægland Over a year ago

Thanks! Seems like I do not need the rm A.txt at all.. It seems to be removed by git filter-branch.

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