PRB: Setting Wrong System Date Causes Lost Project History

• Microsoft SourceSafe for Windows NT, version 4.0
• Microsoft SourceSafe for Windows 95, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

Resetting the system time and date to something earlier than a project's creation time and date can cause that project's labeling information to be lost.

CAUSE

SourceSafe uses the system date and time to determine if a file is within a valid range for a label. Manually altering the system clock to facilitate a desired date preceding the creation date of the project causes serious damage to the labeling structure of the project.

RESOLUTION

Make sure the system clock is set to the right time before checking in files. If you need to alter the computer's system date and time, you must be careful to reset to the correct date and time before checking files in to SourceSafe.

On a network server, all workstations should be synchronized to the server's time to ensure correct date/time stamping by those workstations using SourceSafe.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The NET TIME command is used to synchronize the time in Windows NT. The syntax is as follows:

   NET TIME [\\computername | /DOMAIN:domainname] /SET

The SYSTIME utility is used to synchronize time using a Novell Netware File server. The syntax for this command can be found in Novell's Help system.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE

1. Create a new project and add some files.

2. Set the system clock back to an earlier date.

3. Add a Label to the project.

4. Check the files out from the project.

5. Set the system clock back to the current time and date.

6. Check the files in.

7. View the History of the project.