Subclipse error message "Expected format '3' of repository; found format '5'"

Question

I installed subclipse in eclipse, but I get an error message "Expected format '3' of repository; found format '5'" when I try to open a repository.

Here is the sequence of steps that leads to the error message.

Select "Window -> Open Perspective -> SNV Repository Exploring" from the Eclipse main menu.

Right click on the "SVN Repository" tab. Select "New -> Repository Location..." from the pop-up menu. The "Add SVN Repository" panel appears.

Enter "file:///Users/caylespandon/svn/MyProject" in the "Url" field. Click on the "Finish" buton.

A panel with the following error message appears:

Unable to Validate
Error validating location: "org.tigris.subversion.javahl.ClientException:
Couldn't open a repository
svn: Unable to open an ra_local session to URL
svn: Unable to open repository 'file:///Users/caylespandon/svn/MyProject'
Unsupported repository version
svn: Expected format '3' of repository; found format '5'
"

Note that I can access the same repository from the command line just fine:

~> svn checkout file:///Users/caylespandon/svn/MyProject
A   MyProject/trunk
A   MyProject/trunk/Jamrules
A   MyProject/trunk/.project
A   MyProject/trunk/setenv
[...]

Here is the version information:

Eclipse: version 3.4.0 build id I20080617-2000

Subclipse version: 1.2.0

SVN version: 1.4.4 (r25188)

Running on a Mac: OS X version 10.5.4

PS -- If your answer involves switching from file to svn+ssh, please explain why and how to convert an existing repository from file to svn+ssh without losing any history.

Answer 1

Just guessing here, but make sure your version of the libsvnjavahl libraries are the same as the version of SVN you're using.

Answer 2

I can't help on your posted problem, but I would recommend trying subversive instead. I made the switch out of frustration with some subclipse bugs and have been much happier. It does take a bit more work to install.

Eclipse Subversive Project

Answer 3

The root of the problem is that you are using an old SVN client that does not understand the newer format (5) of the SVN repository.

Answer 4

Have a look at these answers to a similar problem.

Answer 5

(Answering myself)

I ended up picking the solution suggested by Cory Engebretson, which is to use Subversive instead of Subclipse. I did some googling to see if one is better than the other, and they seem to be pretty much equivalent some like one and some the other. I found the help (particualarly the installation instructions) for Subversive clearer and I was able to get it to work without too much trouble.