Microsoft SourceSafe Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (134369)

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1. Q. Where is SourceSafe putting my files?
   
   A. SourceSafe stores any files added to it in its DATA directory. The DATA directory is like a database, but only SourceSafe has access.
   
   To create a network share to access files outside of SourceSafe, the Shadow directory is used. The Shadow directory is a read-only location you can use to build from or access the latest files stored in SourceSafe.
   
   For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   124529 How to Access SourceSafe Code from a Central Directory

2. Q. How do I install SourceSafe on a network?
   
   A. SourceSafe stores its contents like a database. All SourceSafe information shared by users will be in one location, the DATA directory. When the product is installed for multiple users, you want to install SourceSafe in a location where everyone has access. Typically, this location is a network server.
   
   Users often want to have executables and other personal files on the local machine for speed purposes. This can be done with the following steps:
   
   
   1. Copy executables and Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) to the local directory.
   2. Set the environment variable SSDIR to point to the network installation of SourceSafe. For example: SET SSDIR=G:\SS.
   Some additional optional steps are:
   
   
   • Make a copy of the SS\TEMP directory on the local machine. Set the variable Temp_Path in the SS.INI. For example: Temp_Path = c:\ss\temp.
   • Make a copy of the SS\USERS\<user name> subdirectory on the local machine. Set the variable for the desired user in the Users.txt file to point to the new location. For example: JOHN = c:\ss\users\john\ss.ini.
   For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   130142 How to Install SourceSafe on a Windows NT Client Workstation

   129112 How to Install SourceSafe on a Windows 95 Workstation

3. Q. What is SSWCL.EXE?
   
   A. SSWCL.EXE is the command line product for the Windows platform. This executable allows you to execute SourceSafe commands from Windows.
   
   For example: the command SSWCL dir $/ -r displays the contents of the Root project ($/) recursively.
   
   For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   124526 SourceSafe: Using the Windows Command Line

4. Q. What are sharing, branching, and merging?
   
   A. Sharing is a unique feature of SourceSafe that allows you to access the same file from multiple projects. This feature is very beneficial for users who have several different projects that share common components.
   
   All actions that take place on the file can be viewed from all projects the file is currently in. Therefore, a change made in one project will be reflected in all projects.
   
   Branching, takes a shared file and "separates" it or breaks the link with it and the other projects it currently is in. At this point, changes made to the file will not be reflected in the other file(s). This feature is often used when there is a need for specializing a common file, often for language differences or customizing an application.
   
   The Merge command allows you to merge any changes between separated files. This is often useful when a fix made to a branched file needs to be updated with the original project(s).
   
   For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   132923 Sharing SourceSafe Projects

   132971 Merging SourceSafe Files

   132922 Sharing SourceSafe Files

   132921 Branching or Separating SourceSafe Files and Projects

5. Q. Where can I go for additional help?
   
   A. The following documentation ships with Visual SourceSafe:
   
   
   • Manuals
   • Online Help
   • README.WRI
   Additional sources of information include:
   
   
   • The Microsoft Knowledge Base:

     129725 Obtaining Knowledge Base Articles on the World Wide Web

   • Microsoft Technet
   • Microsoft MSDN
   If you need to contact Microsoft Technical Support, the following information will help the SourceSafe support engineers answer your question.
   • Version of SourceSafe. Identify whether you are using the GUI, Command Line, or Add-in product.
   • Operating System (Microsoft Windows 95, Macintosh System 7.5, and so forth).
   • If you are reporting a problem, identify the specific conditions or steps to reproduce the problem.
6. Q. How do I send suggestions for product features or improvements to Microsoft?
   
   A. Contact the Microsoft Wish Line at (206) 936-WISH [936-9474]. If it takes more than two minutes to describe, you can:
   
   
   • Fax the suggestion to us at (206) 936-7329 -or-
     
     
   • -or-Send a letter addressed:
     
     Attn: Microsoft Wish
     One Microsoft Way
     Redmond WA, 98052 -or-
     
     
   • -or-You can access the following URL on the Web to send feedback for SourceSafe:

     http://www.msdn.microsoft.com/ssafe

     Then, click the Submit Feedback button.