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[PATCH v3 5/5] Documentation: update add --force option + ignore=all config

From
CGClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget <gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
Date
Jan 14, 2026, 07:47 UTC
Message-ID
<37fe7956e089394bb1d75f4c8af4a3347b204803.1768376879.git.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<pull.1987.v3.git.1768376879.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
From: "Claus Schneider(Eficode)" <claus.schneider@eficode.com>
- git-add.adoc: Update the --force documentation for submodule behaviour
  to be added even the given configuration ignore=all.
- gitmodules.adoc and config/submodule.adoc: The submodule config
  ignore=all now need --force in order to update the index.
Signed-off-by: Claus Schneider(Eficode) <claus.schneider@eficode.com>
---
 Documentation/config/submodule.adoc | 13 +++++++------
 Documentation/git-add.adoc          |  5 ++++-
 Documentation/gitmodules.adoc       |  5 ++++-
 3 files changed, 15 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/config/submodule.adoc b/Documentation/config/submodule.adoc
index 0672d99117..250a6133d8 100644
--- a/Documentation/config/submodule.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/config/submodule.adoc
@@ -32,15 +32,16 @@ submodule.<name>.fetchRecurseSubmodules::
 
 submodule.<name>.ignore::
 	Defines under what circumstances "git status" and the diff family show
-	a submodule as modified. When set to "all", it will never be considered
-	modified (but it will nonetheless show up in the output of status and
-	commit when it has been staged), "dirty" will ignore all changes
-	to the submodule's work tree and
+	a submodule as modified.
+	Set to "all" will never consider the submodule modified. It can
+	nevertheless be staged using the option --force and it will then show up
+	in the output of status.
+	Set to "dirty" will ignore all changes to the submodule's work tree and
 	takes only differences between the HEAD of the submodule and the commit
 	recorded in the superproject into account. "untracked" will additionally
 	let submodules with modified tracked files in their work tree show up.
-	Using "none" (the default when this option is not set) also shows
-	submodules that have untracked files in their work tree as changed.
+	Set to "none"(default) It is also shows submodules that have untracked
+	files in their work tree as changed.
 	This setting overrides any setting made in .gitmodules for this submodule,
 	both settings can be overridden on the command line by using the
 	"--ignore-submodules" option. The 'git submodule' commands are not
diff --git a/Documentation/git-add.adoc b/Documentation/git-add.adoc
index 6192daeb03..941135dc63 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-add.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/git-add.adoc
@@ -75,7 +75,10 @@ in linkgit:gitglossary[7].
 
 `-f`::
 `--force`::
-	Allow adding otherwise ignored files.
+	Allow adding otherwise ignored files. The option is also used when
+	`submodule.<name>.ignore=all` is set, but you want to stage an
+	update of the submodule. The `path` to the submodule must be explicitly
+	specified.
 
 `--sparse`::
 	Allow updating index entries outside of the sparse-checkout cone.
diff --git a/Documentation/gitmodules.adoc b/Documentation/gitmodules.adoc
index d9bec8b187..3792da96aa 100644
--- a/Documentation/gitmodules.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/gitmodules.adoc
@@ -70,7 +70,10 @@ submodule.<name>.ignore::
 --
 	all;; The submodule will never be considered modified (but will
 	    nonetheless show up in the output of status and commit when it has
-	    been staged).
+	    been staged). Add `(new commits)` can be overruled using the
+	    `git add --force <submodule.path>`.
+		The setting affects `status`, `update-index`, `diff` and `log`(due
+		to underlaying `diff`).
 
 	dirty;; All changes to the submodule's work tree will be ignored, only
 	    committed differences between the `HEAD` of the submodule and its
-- 
gitgitgadget
Previous: Claus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadgetNext: Ben Knoble
Message 26 of 43 in “git-add : Respect submodule ignore=all and only add changes with --force”
  1. 0/5 git-add : Respect submodule ignore=all and only add changes with --forceClaus Schneider via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  2. 1/5 read-cache: update add_files_to_cache to take param ignored_too(--force)Claus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  3. 2/5 read-cache: let read-cache respect submodule ignore=all and --forceClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  4. 3/5 tests: add new t2206-add-submodule-ignored.sh to test ignore=all scenarioClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  5. 4/5 tests: fix existing tests when add an ignore=all submoduleClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  6. 5/5 Documentation: update add --force and submodule ignore=all configClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Oct 18, 2025
  7. Phillip WoodOct 19, 2025
  8. 0/5 git-add : Respect submodule ignore=all and only add changes with --forceClaus Schneider via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  9. 1/5 read-cache: update add_files_to_cache take param include_ignored_submodulesClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  10. Junio C HamanoNov 13, 2025
  11. 2/5 read-cache: add/read-cache respect submodule ignore=allClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  12. 3/5 tests: add new t2206-add-submodule-ignored.sh to test ignore=all scenarioClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  13. 4/5 tests: fix existing tests when add an ignore=all submoduleClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  14. 5/5 Documentation: add --include_ignored_submodules + ignore=all configClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Nov 13, 2025
  15. Junio C HamanoNov 13, 2025
  16. Claus SchneiderNov 14, 2025
  17. Claus SchneiderFeb 5, 2026
  18. Junio C HamanoFeb 5, 2026
  19. 0/5 git-add: Skip submodules with ignore=all unless --force and explicit path usedClaus Schneider via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  20. 1/5 read-cache: update add_files_to_cache take param ignored_tooClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  21. 2/5 read-cache: submodule add need --force given ignore=all configurationClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  22. Kristoffer HaugsbakkJan 15, 2026
  23. Claus SchneiderJan 16, 2026
  24. 3/5 tests: t2206-add-submodule-ignored: ignore=all and add --force testsClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  25. 4/5 tests: fix existing tests when add an ignore=all submoduleClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  26. 5/5 Documentation: update add --force option + ignore=all configClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Jan 14, 2026
  27. Ben KnobleJan 14, 2026
  28. Claus SchneiderJan 16, 2026
  29. 0/5 git-add: Skip submodules with ignore=all unless --force and explicit path usedClaus Schneider via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  30. 1/5 read-cache: update add_files_to_cache take param ignored_tooClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  31. Junio C HamanoFeb 9, 2026
  32. Junio C HamanoFeb 9, 2026
  33. 2/5 read-cache: submodule add need --force given ignore=all configurationClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  34. 3/5 tests: t2206-add-submodule-ignored: ignore=all and add --force testsClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  35. 4/5 tests: fix existing tests when add an ignore=all submoduleClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  36. 5/5 Documentation: update add --force option + ignore=all configClaus Schneider(Eficode) via GitGitGadget, Feb 6, 2026
  37. Kristoffer HaugsbakkMar 4, 2026
  38. Claus SchneiderMar 10, 2026
  39. Claus SchneiderMar 10, 2026
  40. Junio C HamanoFeb 20, 2026
  41. Claus SchneiderOct 20, 2025
  42. Phillip WoodOct 24, 2025
  43. Claus SchneiderNov 13, 2025

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