Bitbucket Git "change base"

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

On the Bitbucket Branches page, what does "change base" do? I'm sure it changes the base, but I don't understand the practical effect and am afraid to mess something up by experimenting.

If you could refer me to a reference URL, that would be great (I've looked and can't find one), but if you'd like to just answer here, that would be great, too. Thanks.

[aMarcus · Accepted solution]

This changes what the base of the comparison for the page will display. For example, if your main branch is "Development", your page will automatically show the ahead and behind based on the difference between "Development" and the other branches in the list. If you switch the base to something else, the page will then display ahead/behind based on the new branch. Give it a try!

[Tobias Zander]

I'm currently looking for a feature like that, but cannot find "change base" on our branches page.

Was this feature removed or moved somewhere else?

[Tom Roggero]

+1 to this ^

[Chad DeShaw]

I wish someone would have answered this, I would like to change the base branch. I don't see this option anywhere.

[James Elsdon]

The 'base branch' is the branch you are currently viewing within the Branches screen.

To 'change base', select the desired branch from the branch dropdown.

The tag will now associate with the selected branch.

The 'base branch' tag will not be visible when the branch selected is also the 'default branch' (selected from settings->repository details), however the comparisons will still be relevant. This is the exception.

[Michael Tuchman]

The conversation does suggest that the bitbucket server branches page could explicitly mention the words 'base branch' somewhere on the page.  Perhaps even title the drop-down so we know **where** the option is located.  James' explanation is excellent, so now wouldn't it be great to see the page itself provide the proper instruction?