HOWTO: Specifying a VSS Database Using the Command Line

ID: Q240052

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0, 6.0

SUMMARY

If you have multiple Microsoft Visual SourceSafe (VSS) databases, and are using the VSS command line, you can use the SSDIR environment variable to point to the required database.

MORE INFORMATION

Each VSS database has its own Srcsafe.ini file. The VSS command line (SS.exe) needs to locate a Srcsafe.ini file in order to determine which database it uses. In most cases Ss.exe is in the VSS\Win32 directory and by default will find a Srcsafe.ini file in the VSS directory. If you want Ss.exe to use a different Srcsafe.ini, use the following command:


SET SSDIR=&lt;path to srcsafe.ini&gt;\

For example:


SET SSDIR=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\VSS


SET SSDIR=\\vss_server\vss_share

NOTE: There must not be spaces around the "=" character. Also note that if you use the SET SSDIR command in a Command Prompt (DOS) window, the SSDIR setting is not maintained after the window is closed.

REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q100843 Environment Variables in Windows NT

Additional query words: environment ssdir

Keywords : kbCommandLine kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe600 kbDSupport kbGrpSSafe
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,4.0a,5.0,6.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto