PRB: Can Log on to a Locked Visual SourceSafe Database

 Last reviewed: November 14, 1996
Article ID: Q159278
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit and 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0a

SYMPTOMS

The Admin utility that ships with Visual SourceSafe version 5.0 allows the Visual SourceSafe administrator to "lock" a database. In theory, when a database is locked, no user can log on to the database. However, because the database format between version 4.0a and 5.0 was not changed and the database locking feature is new to version 5.0, users of Visual SourceSafe Explorer 4.0a can log on to a locked 5.0 database.

CAUSE

Database locking is a new feature in version 5.0, and the Visual SourceSafe Explorer version 4.0a does not check to see if the database is locked.

RESOLUTION

Upgrade all SourceSafe installations to version 5.0 or above.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Locate a system that has Visual SourceSafe versions 4.0a and 5.0 installed.

  2. Launch the Visual SourceSafe 5.0 Admin utility, and click Lock SourceSafe Database on the Tools menu.

  3. Select the "Lock all users out of Visual SourceSafe" check box, and then click Close.

  4. Close the Admin utility and open the Visual SourceSafe Explorer 5.0. Note that the following message appears: 

          The SourceSafe Database has been locked by the Administrator

  5. Click OK, and then close the Login dialog box.

  6. Open the Srcsafe.ini file for the Visual SourceSafe version 4.0a installation and change the DATA_PATH entry so that it points to the data directory of the Visual SourceSafe 5.0 installation. Save the change, and close the Srcsafe.ini file.

  7. Open Visual SourceSafe Explorer 4.0a. Although the database is locked by the administrator, you can log on to the database.

KBCategory: kbprg kbprb
KBSubcategory: ssui
Additional reference words: 5.00 4.00a kbdss

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Last reviewed: November 14, 1996
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