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P4 CLI Documentation | 2026.1

# Basic examples of command aliases

You can define aliases for simple commands.

Before you can define an alias, you must create an alias file. See Define a command alias.

## Shorten a command

Shorten the command for getting the current P4 user:

    me = set P4USER

## Rename commands

Rename some commands to match those of another version control system:

    checkout = sync
    commit = submit
    purge = clean
    stash = shelve
    stash-list = changes -s shelved

## Run multiple commands

Use a single command to preview open files and check their sync status:

    my-status = status && sync -n

## Set different defaults

Modify the default actions of some commands:

    annotate = annotate -u
    grep = grep -i
    changes = changes -u $(P4USER)

## Run a multi-step process

Simplify a system administration process (shutting down the server, displaying active users, and viewing current database locks):

    halt = admin stop
    active-users = changes -m 3 &&
                   monitor show &&
                   lockstat

## Use commands with arguments

Create a command that takes a changelist as its argument:

    kill-shelf $(cl) = shelve -d -c $(cl) &&
                       change -d $(cl)

## Change the order of arguments

Create a command for cloning files in a target directory as user bruges:

    clone $(p4port) $(path) $(dir) = -d $(dir) -u bruges clone -p $(p4port) -f $(path)

This command could be used like so:

    clone perforce:1666 //depot/main/p4...  ~/local-repos/main

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