HOWTO: Open Visual SourceSafe to a Specific Database

 Last reviewed: November 6, 1997
Article ID: Q176350
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows, version 5.0

SUMMARY

By default the Visual SourceSafe Explorer opens the last database that you used. This article demonstrates how to open a different database when you start the Visual SourceSafe Explorer by using an -S switch.

MORE INFORMATION

By using the -S switch, you may direct the SSEXP to a different Srcsafe.ini file. The Srcsafe.ini should contain a pointer to a valid Visual SourceSafe 4.0a or 5.0 data directory. The command is as follows: 

   C:\VSS\WIN32\SSEXP.EXE -S\\SourceSafe\Servers\Training
-or- 

   C:\VSS\WIN32\SSEXP.EXE -SF:\Programs\VSS
By executing these commands, you may invoke an open dialog box that enables the user to verify the Srcsafe.ini selection. After confirming this selection, the Visual SourceSafe 4.0a or 5.0 database that Srcsafe.ini points to is opened. To bypass the login dialog box, you can add the -y switch ( -y<username, password>).

Within Windows 95 or Windows NT you can create a shortcut whose Target URL (shown in the shortcut Properties dialog box) uses the command described above. By doing this, you can open the specified database by double- clicking the shortcut icon. If you have several Visual SourceSafe databases, you can create a shortcut for each one, making it easy to pick the database that you want to work on.

REFERENCES

Visual SourceSafe "User's Guide," version 5.0, page 181 

Keywords          : ssconfig ssui
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: November 6, 1997
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