Subversion Can't read length line in file

Question

When I commit I had no error. Now I tried to check out and I got this error

Can't read length line in file 'c:\svn\db\revs\0\14'

I have tried older revision it doesn't work either. Does it mean I lost everything in subversion ?

Answer 1

I had the same problem and here is simple fix I found without administering the SVN repository.

1. the error was produced by a specific file that I had to commit.
2. I committed all other changed files Ok
3. I copied the local file to the desktop as a backup
4. SVN->Delete file
5. commit the folder. It was successful
6. added the file from the desktop in the local folder
7. svn -> add, svn->commit

problem fixed. I think this way you loose the previous versions of the file from the repository but this was not a problem for me.

Hope this info can help you.

Answer 2

You can run

svnadmin verify /var/svn/repo

to check your repository.

In case you use Berkeley db (you shouldn't),

svnadmin recover /var/svn/repo

may help.

Answer 3

Looks like Berkeley database have been corrupted, you should use FSFS backend next time. For now see Berkeley DB Recovery.

Answer 4

This seems to be SVN bug or some H/W failure. I would start looking for a backup. If you don't have one - you can commit your local working copy in new repository.

Answer 5

Looks like db have been corrupted for one of your revision.

So, at first you can update to previous revision and change last revision in db:

svn update -r99
vi /var/svn/site/db/current
[change number to "99"]

Than you must find out what directory is broken and replace it in repository. [corrupted] - name of your corrupted directory.

cd /var/www/site/
svn delete --keep-local [corrupted]
svn ci [corrupted] -m "Remove corrupted directory from repository"
rm -rf `find /[corrupted] -name .svn`
svn add [corrupted]
svn ci [corrupted] -m "Add fixed directory"