BUG: Show Difference Causes Visual SourceSafe to Hang on Large Text Files (238272)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows 6.0
This article was previously published under Q238272

SYMPTOMS

Performing a Show Differences between the Microsoft Visual SourceSafe copy of a 5MB or larger text file that contains either Carriage Returns or Line Feeds, and the Working Folder copy of the same file, causes Visual SourceSafe to either hang or take an excessive amount of time to complete the request.

RESOLUTION

Keep text files to less than 5 MB in size. Performing the "Show Differences" operation on files that contain Carriage Returns or Line Feeds at the end of each line, but are only 3 - 4 MB in size, results in no error.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Create a 5 MB or larger text file with carriage returns or line feeds at the end of each line.Add the file to Visual SourceSafe (VSS) by dragging it into the VSS Explorer over the root project "$/".Right-click on parent project to select it and choose "Set Working Folder...", accept the default settings and click OK.Right-click on the file and choose CHECK OUT.At the next dialog box, click OK.
    Modify a line of text near the top of your document. For example, on the 5th line of your sample file, change the a word to xxxxxxxx.Modify a line of text near the bottom of your document. For example, on the 5th line from the bottom, change a word to xxxxxxxx.Save the file.In the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, right-click on your sample text document and choose Show Differences.
  2. Add the file to Visual SourceSafe (VSS) by dragging it into the VSS Explorer over the root project "$/".Right-click on parent project to select it and choose "Set Working Folder...", accept the default settings and click OK.Right-click on the file and choose CHECK OUT.At the next dialog box, click OK.
    Modify a line of text near the top of your document. For example, on the 5th line of your sample file, change the a word to xxxxxxxx.Modify a line of text near the bottom of your document. For example, on the 5th line from the bottom, change a word to xxxxxxxx.Save the file.In the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, right-click on your sample text document and choose Show Differences.
  3. Right-click on parent project to select it and choose "Set Working Folder...", accept the default settings and click OK.Right-click on the file and choose CHECK OUT.At the next dialog box, click OK.
    Modify a line of text near the top of your document. For example, on the 5th line of your sample file, change the a word to xxxxxxxx.Modify a line of text near the bottom of your document. For example, on the 5th line from the bottom, change a word to xxxxxxxx.Save the file.In the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, right-click on your sample text document and choose Show Differences.
  4. Right-click on the file and choose CHECK OUT.At the next dialog box, click OK.
    Modify a line of text near the top of your document. For example, on the 5th line of your sample file, change the a word to xxxxxxxx.Modify a line of text near the bottom of your document. For example, on the 5th line from the bottom, change a word to xxxxxxxx.Save the file.In the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, right-click on your sample text document and choose Show Differences.
  5. At the next dialog box, click OK.
    Modify a line of text near the top of your document. For example, on the 5th line of your sample file, change the a word to xxxxxxxx.Modify a line of text near the bottom of your document. For example, on the 5th line from the bottom, change a word to xxxxxxxx.Save the file.In the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, right-click on your sample text document and choose Show Differences.
  6. Modify a line of text near the top of your document. For example, on the 5th line of your sample file, change the a word to xxxxxxxx.Modify a line of text near the bottom of your document. For example, on the 5th line from the bottom, change a word to xxxxxxxx.Save the file.In the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, right-click on your sample text document and choose Show Differences.
  7. Modify a line of text near the bottom of your document. For example, on the 5th line from the bottom, change a word to xxxxxxxx.Save the file.In the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, right-click on your sample text document and choose Show Differences.
  8. Save the file.In the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, right-click on your sample text document and choose Show Differences.
  9. In the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, right-click on your sample text document and choose Show Differences.
Results:

The Show Differences command will either take a very long time to complete, more than ten minutes, or it appears to hang.

Expected Results:

The Show Differences command should take a reasonable amount of time to complete.

REFERENCES

For more information about using the Show Differences feature of Visual SourceSafe 6.0, please refer to the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

154968 HOWTO: Customize the Difference Window

148512 INFO: Description of the Properties/About Command Line Commands

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/15/2002
Keywords:kbBug kbDSupport kbSSExplorer KB238272
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.