dead: A command which says that a repository is gone for good and you don't want git-annex to mention it again.

3 files changed, 23 insertions, 10 deletions

diff --git a/doc/git-annex.mdwn b/doc/git-annex.mdwn
index e98c89fe3..9df5c3c6d 100644
--- a/doc/git-annex.mdwn
+++ b/doc/git-annex.mdwn
@@ -173,6 +173,11 @@ subdirectories).
 
   Returns a repository to the default semi trusted state.
 
+* dead [repository ...]
+
+  Indicates that the repository has been irretrevably lost.
+  (To undo, use semitrust.)
+
 # REPOSITORY MAINTENANCE COMMANDS
 
 * fsck [path ...]
diff --git a/doc/tips/what_to_do_when_you_lose_a_repository.mdwn b/doc/tips/what_to_do_when_you_lose_a_repository.mdwn
index 16a55b37b..3be13b8ab 100644
--- a/doc/tips/what_to_do_when_you_lose_a_repository.mdwn
+++ b/doc/tips/what_to_do_when_you_lose_a_repository.mdwn
@@ -4,16 +4,16 @@ drive died or some other misfortune has befallen your data.
 Unless you configured backups, git-annex can't get your data back. But it
 can help you deal with the loss.
 
-First, go somewhere that knows about the lost repository, and mark it as
-untrusted.
+Go somewhere that knows about the lost repository, and mark it as
+dead:
 
-	git annex untrust usbdrive
+	git annex dead usbdrive
 
-To remind yourself later what happened, you can change its description, too:
+This retains the [[location_tracking]] information for the repository,
+but avoids trying to access it, or list it as a location where files
+are present.
 
-	git annex describe usbdrive "USB drive lost in Timbuktu. Probably gone forever."
+If you later found the drive, you could let git-annex know it's found
+like so:
 
-This retains the [[location_tracking]] information for the repository.
-Maybe you'll find the drive later. Maybe that's impossible. Either way,
-this lets git-annex tell you why a file is no longer accessible, and
-it avoids it relying on that drive to hold any content.
+	git annex semitrusted usbdrive
diff --git a/doc/trust.mdwn b/doc/trust.mdwn
index 7505a7af6..1fd47fd1d 100644
--- a/doc/trust.mdwn
+++ b/doc/trust.mdwn
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-Git-annex supports three levels of trust of a repository:
+Git-annex supports several levels of trust of a repository:
 
 * semitrusted (default)
 * untrusted
 * trusted
+* dead
 
 ## semitrusted
 
@@ -49,3 +50,10 @@ trust temporarily.
 
 To configure a repository as fully and permanently trusted,
 use the `git annex trust` command.
+
+## dead
+
+This is used to indicate that you have no trust that the repository
+exists at all. It's appropriate to use when a drive has been lost,
+or a directory irretrevably deleted. It will make git-annex avoid
+even showing the repository as a place where data might still reside.