--- title: "Using The Repository" slug: "using-the-repository" description: "This document shows users how to use the Decisions Repository to access all shared designer projects that have been stored and saved. The document shows how to add a Project to the Repository, and how to delete and edit the Project and its associated entities. " updated: 2026-04-29T20:43:15Z published: 2026-04-29T20:43:15Z --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Using The Repository ## Overview The [**Designer****Repository**](/v9/docs/repository-overview)****contains all shared **Designer****Projects**that have been stored and saved within an environment. These Projects can be sent, imported, or added****to the Decisions Repository. The Repository allows for safe development practices within Decisions. When Projects are completed on a development server they can be moved to the Repository for testing and then on to the production server. --- Within a **Designer Repository**, all stored Projects can be viewed and accessed within the **Folder Tree**. Selecting a Project Folder from the tree will display the Project Dashboard, providing an overview of the selected Project. ## Deploying Projects Deploying a Project is done through User Actions at the top of the Project's sidebar. There are also two quick icons for Checkin and Checkout.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-09-26_14h34_16.png) | Repository Actions | Description | | --- | --- | | Checkin | Checks in recent changes made to the Project to the copy stored on the repository. | | Checkout | Check out a copy of the Project from the Repository. | | Show Project Differences | Displays any recent changes for a specific Project on the environment. | | Show All Recent Changes | Highlights any recent changes to all Projects made on the environment | | Revert Changes | Reverts any recent changes to a Project to the copy stored on the Repository. | | Add Dependencies | Searches for any dependencies that need to be added to the associated Project. | | Open Repository Server | Opens the Repository server on a new tab. | ### Project Validations on Check-In All projects go through a series of validations when users attempt a Checkin. To complete a Checkin the user will need to have an account on the Repository Server. That account will also need appropriate permissions. The Comments box must be filled in before the COMMIT button will accept the changes. By default all changes to a project are selected, however users can check the box Include Only My Changes to only send changes they made. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1709061563889.png) NoteIf large numbers of Case Entities or other folder-based entities appear during check-in, they can be moved to a folder under **[PROJECT] > Public Folder** so they are automatically excluded from project check-ins. This helps reduce the number of items shown during check-in and can prevent issues caused by very large entity lists. If those entities should not be visible to all users, **Folder Permissions** can be used to control access. Refer to [***Managing Elements within a Project***](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/managing-elements-within-a-project) for more information on moving elements between folders within a project. This behavior is especially useful when project-related folder entities must remain in the environment but should not be committed as part of the project. VIEW BY TYPE changes the view of the entities being considered to organize them by type. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1709061821436.png) A successful Checkin will provide the below screen and produce a new Revision number. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1709063279885.png) ### Deployment Server View Successful Check-ins will be available to view on the Repository Server. Across the top is a summary tile that provides the count of all the completed check-ins, the count of current resources that make up the Project, the count of all resources that are deleted, and the date and time of the most recent commit. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-02-27_14h49_06.png) ## Repository Server - Project Actions In the **Actions Bar**, **Create** **Branch** will be shown. Additional actions can be found by right-clicking the Project Folder in the Folder tree. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1727377024031.png)![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_13h28_41.png)![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_13h31_26.png) | Actions | Description | | --- | --- | | Create Branch | Creates a new Branch of the project in the Repository | | Delete Project | Deletes the currently selected Project from the repository | | Edit[Advanced] | Allows editing of project details, such as updating the Description for the Project. | | [Manage Tags](/v9/docs/tagging-overview) | Associates Tags to a Project. | | Download | | | | Download as Project | Downloads the Project as a zip folder. | | | Download as of Date | Downloads the Project at a specified Date | | | [Download Specific Revisions](/v9/docs/repository-revisions) | Downloads the Project at a specific revision. The Revision ID will needed. | | [Manage](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/actions-glossary) | | | | [Manage Permissions](/v9/docs/setting-folder-permissions) | Folder Action used to manage permissions on a Folder | | | Open Containing Folder | Opens the Folder containing the Project. | | | Permissions: Disable Permissions Inheritance | Disables Permission Inheritance on the Project Folder. | | [Open](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/actions-glossary#designer-folder-actions) | | | | Open Folder | Opens a new tab containing the dashboard for the Project. | | | Open Folder View | Opens a new tab displaying the list of Designer Elements in the Folder. | | | Open Summary For Trunk | Opens a new tab displaying the dashboard for the Project. | | Rollback | | | | Rollback Project to Date | Creates a new [Revision](/v9/docs/repository-revisions) for the Project. | | | Rollback Project to Revision | Changes the currently stored project to use a specific Revision | --- ## Repository Server - Create Project There are multiple methods to create Projects in Decisions. One method is through using the **Create Project**action, which is available on the**Designer Repository** Folder. When the action is ran:![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1654199791414.png) 1. Provide a **Project****Name**, **Description****URL**, and **Description**, then click CREATE. Note that the Description URL needs to be in a typical web address format.  ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1654200399413.png)![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_13h40_21.png) 2. The Project will appear in the Folder Tree. Selecting the Project will open the dashboard. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1654200663636.png) --- ## Repository Server - Delete Project **Projects** can be deleted and removed from the Repository. 1. Right-click the Project and select **Delete****Project**. 2. Click YES to Delete the Project.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_16h28_28.png) --- ## Repository Server - Download Project Users can **Download** a **Project**to store it for later use or as a backup copy to restore back to. 1. Navigate to the Project Folder. 2. Select **Download > Download****Project** from the top Action Bar. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_14h37_21.png) 3. From the **Download****Resources**dialog, select the desired **Branch** then click **OK**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_14h37_48.png) 4. Click the **Download**link. The Download Resources box then displays the file path and name for the configured download. (for example: **C:\Program Files\Decisions\Decisions Services Manager\Instances\Control\Repository\Downloads\MyFirstProject-MyFirstProjectDevelopment-12102018-050634.zip)** **Selecting the Download link proceeds with the download process by downloading the Project in .zip file to the displayed file path. From here the .zip file is saved and acts as a version of the Project that can be referenced/rolled back to at any point.** --- ## Repository Server - Rollback Actions The **Rollback**menu provides users with two options; **Rollback to Revision** (version) of the Project or **Rollback to Date**, which Rollback to whatever state the Project was at based on a specified moment in time. Every time there is a change to the Project a new Revision (state of the Project) is created, meaning the user can **Rollback** at any time to the desirable past state. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_14h38_17.png) --- ## Checkout/Update Project from Repository Below is a list of terms used for the Action state on the checkout screen: | Action | Meaning | | --- | --- | | Added | Item was newly added to the project. | | Deleted | Item was removed from the project. | | Need Merge | Item was modified on the local instance and there is an updated version on the Repository. | | Updated | Item exists within the project and was changed. | 1. Navigate to **System > Designers > Repository**. 2. Select the **CHECKOUT/UPDATE PROJECT**button from the top Action bar. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_14h44_52.png) 3. Search for and select the Project, and [Branch](/v9/docs/repository-branches), then click **CHECKOUT**. If **Advanced** is checked, a specific [Revision](/v9/docs/repository-revisions) can be used instead.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_14h45_59.png) 4. If any items require updating, select **UPDATE**, if not, close out the window via **X**.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1727725609052.png) 5. The Project will begin to download and begin to update the locally stored version of the Project. Once the Project has finished downloading, select **Done****.**Any errors found can be downloaded using the Download Log button.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1727725710597.png) 6. The [**Import Resolution Screen**](/v9/docs/import-resolutions)****will appear if there are validation issues after importing the project. Certain resolution actions will not be available depending on the Designer Element. Once the import completes, the Project will be available in the Folder Tree. --- ## Committing/Sending Project Changes To Repository Any changes to a Project can be checked into the **Designer Repository.**To check in a single Element (such as a Flow, DataStructure, etc...) to a Repository, it must be assigned to a Project. Checkins only occur from the environment connected to the Repository. There are no actions from the Repository server to trigger a Checkin. 1. Right-click the desiredProject. 2. Select **Designer Repository > Checkin Changes for Project [Project Name]**. There is also an icon under the Project Name that can be pressed.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-09-30_16h30_02%20checkin.png) 3. If the resource count for checked-in items is greater than the value defined in the [**Repository Settings**](/v9/docs/repository-settings), a Form will open, displaying the count of the Designer Elements. The elements to be committed with the checkin can be selected from this Form. Users can toggle "Include Only My Changes" to see only Designer Elements that they personally have modified. The comment field must be filled in before a commit will complete. Verify which items to include and press the COMMIT button.**![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1727729040079.png)The total count of items is in the top right corner. In this example 143 elements have been selected.** 4. Items will then begin to be checked into the Repository. Any errors during the check-in will be shown in the following Form. A revision number will be provided once the check-in has been completed. Select **CLOSE**after confirming that the changes were committed. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1727729335049.png)Notice the Revision number in the top right. --- ## Configuring a Repository Username and Password Repository actions performed from a development instance may require credentials for an account that exists on the Repository Server. These credentials can be stored on the local account used in the development instance. 1. Navigate to **System > Security > Accounts**. Right-click the desired Account, then click **Edit Account**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1777069294129.png) 2. In the **Edit Entity** window, scroll to the **OTHER CONTACT DETAILS** section and click **ADD** under **Other Contact**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1777069353296.png) 3. Select **PICK** under **Other Contact Type**, then choose **Decisions Repository**. Enter the **Account** and **Password** for the Repository Server account, then click **OK**. Click **SAVE** to finish updating the account. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1777069437627.png) --- ## Reverting Changes to a Branch The **Revert Revision** action allows the user to revert a [branch](/v9/docs/repository-branches) in a Project to the current [revision](/v9/docs/repository-revisions). This action is available on the Designer Repository. 1. In the Designer Repository, locate and select the Project 2. On the Repository Dashboard for the Project, select the name of the branch in the Repository.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1657217153280.png) 3. The Branch Summary Page should appear. Right click the latest Revision in the branch and select the Revert Revision action.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1657217251683.png) 4. Right-click the desired **Revision ID** and select **Revert Revision**. 5. Confirm with **OK.**The Repository environment may need to be restarted to apply changes. --- ## Repository Dashboard and Repository Difference Pages These two pages provide comprehensive information about the check-in and check-out exchange process between a client's and repository servers. They can be accessed on the client's server under **[DESIGNER_PROJECT] > Manage > Health > Project Auditing > Repository**. ### Repository Dashboard The Repository Dashboard offers an overview of the repository and includes the following details: - **Current Version:** The latest version of the Project that has been checked into the repository server. - **Total Resources:** The count of resources available in the given [DESIGNER_PROJECT]. - **Resources Available:** Displays all the resources in the given [DESIGNER_PROJECT]. - **Actions:**Records all check-ins that have occurred to the repository server, including: - Action - Revision ID - Date - User Email - Message (commit message) ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1743109801183.png) ### Repository Difference Page The Repository Difference Page is in the same section as the Repository Dashboard. It allows users to switch between different views via a tab at the top right of the Page. This Page displays the following information: - **Items Awaiting Check-in:** Lists pending items on the client's server that need to be checked into the repository server. - **Missing From Current Environment:** Displays items in the repository server that have not been checked out into the instance yet. - **Items On Repository:** Shows entities on the repository server but missing on the client instance. ### Example Workflow 1. Create a Designer Project on a local server (acting as a client-server) and add designer elements (e.g., a Flow and a Form). ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1743109824383.png) 2. Navigate to Repository Difference Page: View the Project's created designer elements and other resources under Items Awaiting Check-in. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1743109836488.png) 3. Check-in Process: - Click the Check-in button under the Project name. If the connection to the repository server is not established, a popup will prompt to enter credentials. - Enter the credentials and click OK. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1743109844926.png) - A Commit Changes popup will appear. Enter a commit message and click the Commit button to commit selected changes to the repository server. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1743109882278.png) - Click Done once the commit status is complete. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1743109890180.png) 4. Verify Commits: All changes in the Project are now committed to the repository server. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1743109898661.png) 5. The Repository Dashboard will display these commits under the Actions table. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1743109904164.png) ### Calculate Differences Action The Calculate Differences button is used to load reports based on the repository server credentials: - If the current login credentials match those of the repository server (the account is present in the repository), there is no need to click the Calculate Differences button; reports will load by default. - If the current login credentials do not match the repository server (the account is not present in the repository), the Calculate Differences button must be clicked. This will prompt repository credentials, and once entered, the data will load. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1743109911915.png) --- ## Feature Changes | Description | Version | Release Date | Developer Task | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Added two more counts to the Branch Summary tile. | [9.6](https://documentation.decisions.com/v99/docs/version-96x-release-notes) | January 2025 | [DT-042982] | --- For further information on Repository, visit the [Decisions Forum](https://community.decisions.com/categories/Repository).