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P4 CLI Documentation | 2025.2

# Expanding RCS keywords

RCS (Revision Control System), an early version control system, defined keywords that you can embed in your source files. These keywords are updated whenever a file is committed to the repository. P4 Server supports some RCS keywords.

To activate RCS keyword expansion for a file, use the `+k` modifier. RCS keywords are expanded as follows.

Keyword | Expands To | Example
--- | --- | ---
`$Author$` | P4 Server user submitting the file | `$Author: bruno $`
`$Change$` | P4 Server changelist number under which file was submitted | `$Change: 439 $`
`$Date$` | Date of last submission in format `YYYY/MM/DD` | `$Date: 2011/08/18 $`
`$DateTime$` | Date and time of last submission in format `YYYY/MM/DDhh:``mm:``ss` Date and time are as of the local time on the P4 Server at time of submission. | `$DateTime: 2011/08/18 23:17:02 $`
`$File$` | Filename only, in depot syntax (without revision number) | `$File: //depot/path/file.txt $`
`$Header$` | Synonymous with `$Id$` | `$Header: //depot/path/file.txt#3 $`
`$Id$` | Filename and revision number in depot syntax | `$Id: //depot/path/file.txt#3 $`
`$Revision$` | P4 Server revision number | `$Revision: #3 $`

To display a file without expanding its keywords, use `p4 print -k filename`.

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