# 5.6. Clone a repository

To clone a repository you have to run the clone dialog. From the explorer context menu select TortoiseHg… ‣ Clone a repository or type thg clone.

Clone Dialog

Source

  It is the path (or URL) of the repository that will be cloned. Use the Browse… to choose a local folder.

Destination

  It is the path of destination directory, a folder with the same name of source repository will be created within this directory.

Under the Options expander you will find:

Clone To Revision

  You can limit the clone up to this revision. Even the tags created after this revision will not be imported.

Do not update the new working directory

  If checked, after the clone the working directory will be empty. It is useful when you have to clone a repository with the purpose of central repository, or backup, where you have only, in the future, to push and pull.

Use pull protocol to copy metadata

  When the source and destination are on the same filesystem, Mercurial tries to use hardlinks. Some filesystems, such as AFS implement hardlink incorrectly, but do not report errors. Use this option to avoid hardlinks.

Use uncompressed transfer

  To use uncompressed transfer (fast over LAN).

Include patch queue

  To also clone an MQ patch repository along with the main repository. It is possible to provide a patch queue name that differs from the default one.

Use proxy server

  To use the proxy server configured in TortoiseHg… ‣ Global Settings ‣ Proxy. This is enabled only if a proxy is configured.

Do not verify host certificate

  Skip checking server certificate for https:// url (ignoring web.cacerts config).

Remote command

  Specify a Mercurial command to run on the remote side.

Hg command

  This field displays the command that will be executed by the dialog.

## 5.6.1. From command line

The clone tool can be started from command line

    thg clone

The syntax is

    thg clone [SOURCE] [DEST]

where [SOURCE] and [DEST] are, the paths of source repository and destination folder.