BUG: Duplicate Entries Appear in Open Database Dialog Box

• Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

Under certain conditions, you may notice that duplicate database entries appear in the Open SourceSafe Database dialog box. These entries contain identical path references and have a ~x appended to the end of the database name (where x is some integer). The following are examples of this type of duplicate entry:

   Database Name                   Path
   ===================             =================

   \\RIGEL\PHYDEAUX\               \\RIGEL\PHYDEAUX\
   \\RIGEL\PHYDEAUX\~1             \\RIGEL\PHYDEAUX\
   \\RIGEL\PHYDEAUX\~2             \\RIGEL\PHYDEAUX\
   \\RIGEL\PHYDEAUX\~3             \\RIGEL\PHYDEAUX\

CAUSE

The problem occurs under the following two conditions:

Condition 1

All of the following three circumstances must exist:

1. You added a database to the Open SourceSafe Database dialog box by typing in the path to the SRCSAFE.INI instead of locating the file with the Browse command.

2. The database that you added is located on a network drive.

3. You start the Visual SourceSafe Explorer by using the -s switch and pointing it to the database that you added.

Condition 2

1. You start the Visual SourceSafe Explorer using the -s switch and pointing it to a database that does not yet appear in the Open SourceSafe Database dialog box. Each subsequent time you start the Visual SourceSafe Explorer using this method, a new duplicate entry is added to the Open SourceSafe Database dialog box.

RESOLUTION

If Condition 1 exists, use the Browse capabilities to locate the SRCSAFE.INI file instead of typing in the path.

If Condition 2 exists, make sure that the database referenced through the -s switch already resides in the list of available databases.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

Condition 1

1. Open or switch to the Visual SourceSafe Explorer.

2. On the File menu, click Open SourceSafe Database. Click Browse.

3. Type the complete UNC path to a SRCSAFE.INI file that resides on a server into the File text box. For example:

   \\RIGEL\PHYDEAUX\SRCSAFE.INI

4. Click Open (this closes the Find Database dialog box). Click OK to close the Browse for the Visual SourceSafe Database dialog box.

5. Click Cancel to close the Open SourceSafe Database dialog box (this prevents the new database reference from becoming the default). Close the Visual SourceSafe Explorer.

6. Create a shortcut or an icon with the following command line:

   <drive letter>:\VSS\win32\SSEXP.EXE -s<UNC Path to newly added database>

   where <drive letter> is the drive containing your Visual SourceSafe installation and <UNC Path to newly added database> is the UNC path to the Visual SourceSafe database added in steps 2, 3, and 4.

7. Start the Visual SourceSafe Explorer using the new icon or shortcut several times. Note that each time you start the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, an additional database reference is added to the Open SourceSafe Database dialog box.

Condition 2

1. Open or switch to the Visual SourceSafe Explorer.

2. On the File menu, click Open SourceSafe Database. Remove all database entries except the current database, and then close the Visual SourceSafe Explorer.

3. Create a shortcut or icon with the following command line:

   <drive letter>:\VSS\win32\SSEXP.EXE -s<UNC Path to alternate database>

   where <drive letter> is the drive containing your Visual SourceSafe installation and <UNC Path to alternate database> is the UNC path to any Visual SourceSafe database (residing on a server) other than the current default (that is, the one that was left in the Open SourceSafe Database dialog box in step 2).

4. Start the Visual SourceSafe Explorer using the new icon or shortcut several times. Note that each time you start the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, an additional database reference is added to the Open SourceSafe Database dialog box.