INFO: New Visual SourceSafe Commands and Functionality

• Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit and 32-bit, for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a
• Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows, version 5.0

SUMMARY

This article discusses the new commands and functionality that were added to Visual SourceSafe 4.0, including properties, about, pin, unpin, merge on GET, UNC's, drag-and-drop sharing, and integration. These commands and functionality are also available in Visual SourceSafe 5.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Properties Using the Command Line

When 'ss properties <file name>' is run, it gives information about a file:

   Example:
   File:  $/Project/file.txt
   Type:  Text
   Size:  1444 bytes      25 lines
   Store only latest version:  No
   Latest:                        Last Label:  Version1
     Version:  1                     Version:  4
     Date:     7/26/96    6:13p      Date:     7/26/96    6:18p

     Comment: This is the comment for adding file.txt to the database

Properties Using the Visual SourceSafe Explorer

Similar Properties information can be found on the General Tab when the properties dialog is invoked from File->Properties menu option. The properties dialog can also be invoked with the ALT+ENTER key combination.

About Using the Command Line

When 'ss about' is run, it gives the following information about Visual SourceSafe:

   Microsoft (R) SourceSafe Version 4.00
   Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1994-1995. All rights reserved.
   Version 4.00 (Build 831)

About Using the Visual SourceSafe Explorer

Similar About information can be found under the Help->About menu option.

Pin Using the Command Line

When 'ss pin <file name> -V#' is run, it stops development of the file temporarily at the version number given in the command. When users GET a copy of the file, they will receive the contents of the file when it was at the version indicated by the pin command. Unless the -G- switch is used, pinning automatically does a GET on the file. Shared files can be pinned. A file cannot be pinned if it is checked out. Users will not be able to check out the file while it is pinned. If a file is pinned and a check out is attempted, the following message is returned:

   "You are using an old version of <file name>, and cannot change it.
   Rollback to make that version the most recent if you need to change it."

Pin Using the Visual SourceSafe Explorer

Pin is a button available from the History dialog of a file. The History dialog can be invoked by right-clicking the file and choosing Show History..., or by using the Tools->Show History... menu option.

Unpin Using the Command Line

When 'ss unpin <file name>' is run, it will remove the pin and the file can then be checked out and modified.

Unpin Using the Visual SourceSafe Explorer

Unpin is a button available from the History dialog of a file. The file must already be pinned for the Unpin button to appear. The History dialog can be invoked by right-clicking the file and choosing Show History... or by using the Tools->Show History... menu option.

Merge on GET

This functionality allows a user to merge the version that is in Visual SourceSafe into their local writable file. It is primarily invoked when one user does a check out on a file for editing. Meanwhile, other users check out, change and check in their changes. The version that is in Visual SourceSafe is now different than the version the first user did a check out on. Therefore, the first user can do a merge on GET to update the local file without losing the changes.

To accomplish this, hold down the SHIFT key while doing a GET on the file. This should bring up a dialog box with an Advanced>> button. Click the Advanced>> button, and change the Replace Writable textbox to Merge. Then click the OK button.

NOTE: The administrator of the Sourcesafe database must have "Allow Multiple Checkouts" enabled. Click OK.

Universal Naming Conventions (UNC's)

In previous versions of SourceSafe, drive letters needed to be used to refer to path names. Now UNC's can be used. This allows for more flexibility in connecting to and using Visual SourceSafe.

Drag and Drop Sharing

Users can now drag and drop a file to share it. This is more intuitive than using the menus. In addition, if the right mouse is held down during the drag and drop process, a menu will appear giving the user a choice of Share, Share and Branch, or Cancel.

Additional Accelerator Keys

More shortcut keys have been added for convenience. For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q138387
   TITLE     : Visual SourceSafe Viewer Accelerator Keys

Integration

Visual SourceSafe 4.0 integrates with Visual Basic 4.0 Standard, Professional, and Enterprise Editions, and with Visual C++ 4.0 Professional. This allows users to do basic Visual SourceSafe functionality from within Visual Basic or Visual C++. For more information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: