INFO: How SourceSafe Locks Files in the DATA Directory (124525)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
This article was previously published under Q124525

SUMMARY

SourceSafe can use two methods for locking files:

  • Native: SourceSafe uses operating-system native locking mechanisms. This is the fastest method, but it may not operate correctly under all network configurations.
  • Lockmode: SourceSafe creates files in the DATA\LOCKS directory indicating a database file is locked. This method is slower, but will work on all configurations. However, users must have delete rights to the DATA\LOCKS directory.
SourceSafe uses the native setting by default.

MORE INFORMATION

The following problems indicate you need to use the lockmode setting:

  • The error "Error locking file."
  • The error "Timeout locking file: <File Name>"
  • SourceSafe seems to hang (stop responding) after performing an operation such as Checkout, Update, adding a file, or creating a project.
To solve these problems, change the locking method globally for all SourceSafe users by adding or changing the Lock_Mode setting in the SRCSAFE.INI (or in version 2.X, the SYSTEM.INI file).

Edit the SRCSAFE.INI file, which is located in the SourceSafe directory to add: 
   lock_mode = lockfile
In version 2.X, edit the SYSTEM.INI file in the SourceSafe directory to add: 
   lock_mode = pedantic

REFERENCES

Microsoft SourceSafe Concepts and Configuration Manual, Section 5

The SourceSafe Administrator
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/11/2001
Keywords:kbinfo KB124525
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.