PRB: Misleading Message When Checking Out Older File Version

• 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

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to check out an older version of a file from the command line you receive the following message:

   <filename> is pinned to an older version.
   Unpin this file or perform a rollback before attempting to check it out.

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

CAUSE

Because checking out older versions creates a merge scenario (that is, the older version of a file is checked out and when it is eventually checked back in), it must merge with the most current version. Before this can happen, Visual SourceSafe must assume multiple checkouts is enabled. If it isn't, you receive the message.

RESOLUTION

Enable the option to "Allow multiple checkouts" from the Visual SourceSafe Admin utility before any attempts at checking out older file versions. To accomplish this:

1. From the Tools menu, select Options.

2. Select the "Allow multiple checkouts" check box.

3. Click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Open the Admin program and make sure "Allow multiple checkouts" check box is not selected.

2. From the command line type:

         ss checkout $/<project name>/<filename> -v1
   

Keywords          : sscl ssconfig kberrmsg
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.0a,5.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb