Perforce P4 Command Reference: Core CLI Commands, Workflow, and Examples

Perforce (Helix Core) has a broad command-line interface, and this guide is for engineers who need a fast, reliable command reference while working. It covers the core workflow, what key commands are used for, and a cleaned command list preserved from the original post.

Originally published on 2010-11-25; fully revised and updated.

This revision is based on the original post, Basic Perforce Command – P4 Command Reference, with improved structure and practical examples.

Perforce command workflow at a glance

This is the typical lifecycle for a basic P4 change: authenticate, sync, open files for change, resolve when needed, and submit.

flowchart TD
    A[Set P4PORT P4USER P4CLIENT] --> B[p4 login]
    B --> C[p4 sync]
    C --> D[Open files for add delete integrate]
    D --> E[p4 resolve]
    E --> F{Conflicts left}
    F -- yes --> E2[Resolve again]
    E2 --> F
    F -- no --> G[p4 submit]
    G --> H[Changelist stored in depot]

Quick start: connect and verify your workspace

Before editing or submitting, verify server connection, identity, and workspace context.

export P4PORT=perforce.example.com:1666
export P4USER=alice
export P4CLIENT=alice_ws

p4 login
p4 info
p4 clients
p4 sync //depot/main/...Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Command comparison for everyday work

Use this quick comparison when deciding which command to run next.

Task	Primary command	What it does	Typical follow-up
Bring workspace up to date	p4 sync	Copies files from depot to workspace	p4 have, then edit/add/delete
Start a new file	p4 add	Opens file for addition to depot	p4 change, p4 submit
Remove a tracked file	p4 delete	Opens file for deletion from depot	p4 submit
Merge or branch work	p4 integrate	Opens files for branching or merging	p4 resolve, p4 submit
Handle merge conflicts	p4 resolve	Resolves differences between revisions	p4 submit
Undo local pending changes	p4 revert	Discards changes to opened files	p4 sync if needed
Publish pending work	p4 submit	Sends open file changes to depot	p4 changelists, p4 describe

Example: create and submit a basic changelist

This example shows a small add/delete change and submission through a numbered changelist.

p4 sync //depot/main/...

p4 add docs/release-notes.txt
p4 delete config/old.properties

p4 change
# Note the changelist number created in the editor

p4 submit -c 12345Code language: PHP (php)

Example: integrate and resolve

p4 integrate //depot/release/... //depot/main/...
p4 resolve
p4 submitCode language: JavaScript (javascript)

Basic P4 command reference

The table below preserves the original command coverage and descriptions, cleaned for readability.

Command	Description
p4 add	Open file(s) in a client workspace for addition to the depot.
p4 admin	Perform administrative operations on the server.
p4 branch	Create or edit a branch specification and its view.
p4 change	Create or edit a changelist specification.
p4 changelists	List submitted and pending changelists.
p4 changelist	Create or edit a changelist specification.
p4 client	Create or edit a client workspace specification and its view.
p4 clients	List all client workspaces currently known to the system.
p4 delete	Open file(s) in a client workspace for deletion from the depot.
p4 depot	Create or edit a depot specification.
p4 depots	Display a list of depots known to the Perforce server.
p4 describe	Provides information about changelists and the changelists’ files.
p4 groups	List groups of users.
p4 group	Add or delete users from a group, or set maxresults, maxscanrows, and timeout limits for members of a group.
p4 have	List files and revisions that have been synced to the client workspace.
p4 info	Display information about the current client and server.
p4 integrate	Open files for branching or merging.
p4 integrated	Show integrations that have been submitted.
p4 job	Create or edit a defect, enhancement request, or other job specification.
p4 jobs	List jobs known to the Perforce server.
p4 label	Create or edit a label specification and its view.
p4 labels	Display list of defined labels.
p4 lock	Lock an opened file against changelist submission.
p4 login	Log in to a Perforce server by obtaining a ticket.
p4 logout	Log out of a Perforce server by removing or invalidating a ticket.
p4 passwd	Change a user’s Perforce password on the server.
p4 rename	Renaming files under Perforce.
p4 resolve	Resolve conflicts between file revisions.
p4 revert	Discard changes made to open files.
p4 set	Set Perforce variables in the Windows registry.
p4 submit	Send changes made to open files to the depot.
p4 sync	Copy files from the depot into the workspace.
p4 tag	Tag files with a label.
p4 triggers	Edit scripts that run conditionally for submits, form updates, or external authentication integration.
p4 user	Create or edit Perforce user specifications and preferences.
p4 users	Print a list of all known users of the current server.
p4 verify	Verify that server archives are intact.
p4 workspace	Create or edit a client workspace specification and its view.

Best practices and common pitfalls

Run p4 info before major operations to confirm server, user, and workspace context.
Use numbered changelists for anything non-trivial so you can track and review changes cleanly.
Sync before integrate/resolve cycles to reduce avoidable conflicts.
Use p4 have when troubleshooting version drift between local files and depot state.
Treat admin-level commands (p4 admin, p4 verify, p4 triggers) as controlled operations.
When uncertain about syntax on your server version, check p4 help <command>.

Rajesh Kumar

I’m Rajesh Kumar, a DevOps, SRE, DevSecOps, Cloud, and Platform Engineering expert passionate about sharing practical knowledge, real-world experiences, and industry best practices. I have worked at Cotocus and regularly write about technology, travel, investing, health, product reviews, and digital marketing through my various platforms.

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