Stop tracking marks file for deletion

Question

I want to stop tracking a file so I can then ignore it. When I do stop tracking, it puts it in my index with a RED circle for deletion.. reading online it seems it should be putting a question mark instead, I'm afraid it'll delete the file.

What am I doing wrong?

alex_rq7hs0 · Answer

Sorry to necro an old thread but the SourceTree behavior seems a little inconsistent (there's probably a reason, but I don't know why). For one file I clicked "Stop Tracking" and it turned to a question mark, then I clicked "Ignore." Worked fine, submitted .gitignore.

Next two files, I clicked "Stop Tracking" and they turned into red Xs. I committed those, THEN the same files appeared with question marks... then I could ignore them. Checked .gitignore, looked correct, submitted.

I don't know why the behavior was different, but... it seems sometimes you can "Stop Tracking, Ignore" other times you have to "Stop Tracking, Commit, Ignore."

Seth · Answer

It's just a matter of misunderstanding the command. For some reason Atlassian appears to have made the decision to disable ignoring tracked files via the UI. "Stop tracking" is a different, but still important, feature.

I expect ignoring files like this is a rare occurance. You'll just have to rely on the command line, I think.

jmejiaa1986 · Answer

Well, isn't that what gitignore command is(Which worked in the command line)

It allows me to ignore the changes I make locally, but keep the file in the repo. For example I'm using this to hard code my ID and PW in a form, but obviously I don't want to check it in to git.. So this way this login file is ignored...

I was able to do it in the command line, just curious why it's not working with sourcetree.