How to convert existing non-empty directory into a Git working directory and push files to a remote branch

Question

I have non empty folder with project. I want to push not to the master but to the branch . How to do this?

cd <folder>
git init
git remote add origin <url> //at this point my folder connected to the master

What should be next?

git branch <branch1>
git add .
git commit -m "commint to branch1"
git push

Does "branch1" exist on the remote `origin` or do you need to create it? — Richard, May 29 '18 at 09:10
And the obvious question: have you done a `pull` or ` fetch` to get everything already in the remote? — Richard, May 29 '18 at 09:13
*"What should be next?"* -- first thing to do after you add a remote or change the URL of an existing remote is [`git fetch`](https://git-scm.com/docs/git-fetch). It gets on the local repo the information about the commits and branches present on the remote repo. — axiac, May 29 '18 at 09:14
You can `git fetch` to get information from the remote, then `git checkout -b ` to create the new branch. Then add, commit and push (then maybe pull to check everything is OK). — Aimery, May 29 '18 at 09:27
Possible duplicate of [How to convert existing non-empty directory into a Git working directory and push files to a remote repository](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3311774/how-to-convert-existing-non-empty-directory-into-a-git-working-directory-and-pus) — phd, May 29 '18 at 13:39

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered May 29 '18 at 09:33

As you've not done a git fetch you don't have the changes from the remote in any branches including the one you've created. Assuming you want to use branch1 as the name in the remote. I would suggest

Backup your local repository (copy the .git folder somewhere else)
Switch to master
```
git checkout master
```
Rename your local working branch for the time being
```
git branch -m branch1 tempBranch
```
Get the content of the remote locally
```
git fetch
```
Ensure your master is up to date with origin/master
```
git pull
```
Create a new working branch and set it up in the origin
```
git checkout -b branch1
git push -u origin branch1
```
Put the changes you wanted into the real branch1
```
git merge tempBranch
```
you may need to handle conflicts at this point.
Push your changes
```
git push
```

Alternatively, if you've only made trivial changes, just start anew with a clean clone of the remote and redo you changes in that new local repository.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 29 '18 at 09:31

0

You can use following commands :

git checkout -b <branch1>
git add .
git commit -m "commint to branch1"
git push -u origin <branch1>

answered May 29 '18 at 09:31

dr. strange

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How to convert existing non-empty directory into a Git working directory and push files to a remote branch

2 Answers2