BUG: You are prompted for project file when you open a Visual C++ workspace file (.dsw) (192625)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0a
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0a
This article was previously published under Q192625

SYMPTOMS

When opening a Visual C++ workspace file (.dsw), the following dialog box appears:

Browse for Project <project name>

This dialog box shows the last known location for a project file (.dsp) in the workspace, and enables browsing for project files in other directories. This is normal behavior if a project file has been deleted or moved to another directory relative to the workspace file.

However, the dialog box may also appear unexpectedly when the workspace file is shared; for example, by being checked into a source control system such as Microsoft SourceSafe.

CAUSE

The .dsw file normally contains the relative path of the .dsp file. However, the .dsw file stores the full path to the .dsp file when it exists in a directory tree outside of the .dsw file, such as on another drive.

If two users of a source-controlled workspace check out a project to different locations, the .dsw file may be modified. Inserting a new project into the workspace or modifying dependencies will also rewrite the .dsw file, as will adding an ActiveX resource to a project. When the modified .dsw file is checked back in to source control, another user checking it out to a different path may experience this problem.

RESOLUTION

One of the following three workarounds may work in different build environments:

  • Remove the .dsw file from source control. Let each workstation maintain a local copy of the .dsw file. Manually communicate workspace modifications to all developers working with it.
  • Enforce a policy requiring workspaces and projects to be checked out to identical file structures.
  • Permit .dsw modification and check-in from one workstation only. Users may check out the .dsw file to other workstations.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem can be a severe usability issue for developers using the Visual C++ IDE, particularly for large teams. Both the .dsw and the .dsp files are plain text, and it is convenient to place both under source control so changes are propagated to an entire team.

The .dsw file does not change until you add a new project, a dependency, or an ActiveX resource; however, once it is rewritten, this problem can surface. The workspace .opt file also holds the full path of the projects; this is a binary workstation-specific file and should not be placed under source control.

Steps to reproduce the behavior

The following steps simulate checking a .dsw file into a source control system:
  1. On one workstation, create a workspace in C:\proja with two projects, located in C:\proja and C:\projb. In this example, the workspace is named Wksp.dsw; the projects are named Proja.dsp and Projb.dsp.
  2. On a second workstation, copy the project directories from the first workstation. Copy [1]c:\proja to [2]C:\proja, and from [1]C:\projb to [2]d:\projb.
  3. Open Wksp.dsw on workstation 2. Note that it correctly displays the dialog box to locate Projb.dsp.
  4. Close Wksp.dsw on workstation 2. Open Wksp.dsw in a text editor. Note that the file paths have not changed from the original.
  5. Add a new project to Wksp.dsw on workstation 2, then close the workspace. Again, open Wksp.dsw in a text editor. Note that the file paths have changed.
  6. Copy Wksp.dsw from the workstation 1 back to workstation 2, overwriting the existing file in C:\proja.
  7. Open Wksp.dsw on workstation 1. Workstation 1 now displays the "Browse for Project" dialog box for the .dsp file that is in C:\projb.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/9/2006
Keywords:kbtshoot kbBug kbFAQ kbide kbnofix kbprb KB192625 kbAudDeveloper
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