:rcs branching 

Check out & lock 

$ co -r1.2 -l Makefile
RCS/Makefile,v  -->  Makefile
revision 1.2 (locked)
done
[Tip]

!!

$ rlog Makefile
====
RCS file: RCS/Makefile,v
Working file: Makefile
head: 1.4
branch:
locks: strict
        tong: 1.2
access list:
symbolic names:
keyword substitution: kv
total revisions: 4;     selected revisions: 4
description:
Makefile for latex
----------------------------
revision 1.4
date: 2001/03/15 03:18:34;  author: tong;  state: Exp;  lines: +20 -4
slightly enhancement

Check in 

$ rlog Makefile
====
RCS file: RCS/Makefile,v
Working file: Makefile
head: 1.4
branch: 1.2.1
locks: strict
access list:
symbolic names:
keyword substitution: kv
total revisions: 5;     selected revisions: 5
description:
Makefile for latex
----------------------------
revision 1.4
date: 2001/03/15 03:18:34;  author: tong;  state: Exp;  lines: +20 -4
slightly enhancement
----------------------------
revision 1.3
[...]
----------------------------
revision 1.1
date: 2001/02/24 03:41:47;  author: tong;  state: Exp;
Initial revision
----------------------------
revision 1.2.1.1
date: 2001/03/20 17:47:36;  author: tong;  state: Exp;  lines: +183 -41
1st public release.

Trying History 

Check out but not lock 

$ co -r1.2 Makefile
RCS/Makefile,v  -->  Makefile
revision 1.2
done
$ rcsdiff -r1.2 Makefile
===================================================================
RCS file: RCS/Makefile,v
retrieving revision 1.2
diff -r1.2 Makefile
  -- same as the version checked out
rlog Makefile
====
RCS file: RCS/Makefile,v
Working file: Makefile
head: 1.4
branch:
locks: strict
access list:
symbolic names:
keyword substitution: kv
total revisions: 4;     selected revisions: 4
description:
Makefile for latex

documented on: 2001.03.14