Checking Out a Remote Branch

To check out a remote branch

1. Select the Checkout command from the Git Source Control Client submenu in the Browse menu.

2. Select the required remote branch in the Branch combo box. Remote branches are identified by the remote name prefix followed by their branch name.

   When you have selected a remote branch in the Branch combo box, the Create New Branch and Track Remote Branch check boxes are both automatically checked, as shown in the following image.

   

   These check boxes are automatically checked because when checking out a remote branch, you should create a new local branch. If a new local branch is not created, a detached HEAD state occurs.

   When in detached HEAD state, there is no current branch; that is, you are working at no branch. (For details, see https://git-scm.com/docs/git-checkout#_detached_head.)

3. If you are creating a new local branch, you must specify a branch name in the text box at the right of the Create New Branch check box. Generally, this name should match that of your selected remote branch.

4. When the Track Remote Branch check box is checked in conjunction with the Create New Branch check box, the new branch created during the checkout operation has its tracked remote branch set to the remote branch selected in the Branch combo box.

5. To perform the checkout operation, click the Checkout button. (Alternatively, click the Cancel button on the Git Checkout dialog, to abandon the checkout operation.)

If the Create New Branch check box is checked and a new local branch specified, a new local branch is created with the specified name and its tip matches that of the selected remote branch. This new branch is then checked out into the index and working directory.

If a remote branch is checked out without creating a new branch, a message box like that shown in the following image is displayed.

2018.0.01 and higher