KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q138296: HOWTO: Use UNC Paths in Visual SourceSafe

Article: Q138296
Product(s): Microsoft SourceSafe
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500
Last Modified: 01-MAY-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows, versions 4.0, 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Previous versions of Visual SourceSafe could not use universal naming convention
(UNC) paths. Visual SourceSafe now allows the user to use UNC paths in most
SourceSafe Explorer, SRCSAFE.INI or SS.INI settings. This eliminates the need to
map a drive to run SourceSafe and allows the administrator to easily place the
Visual SourceSafe database on a different network server without any end-user
intervention.

MORE INFORMATION
================

UNC paths may be used in many locations, but not every location in Visual
SourceSafe. The following list contains the files, environment variables, and
.INI file variables that accept UNC paths:

- SSDIR environment variable.

- SSINI environment variable.

- #INCLUDE in the SRCSAFE.INI file. For more information about possible
  problems with using the #INCLUDE option, please see the following article in
  the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q136401 Visual SourceSafe "Invalid Data Path" Error

- SRCSAFE.INI variables:

  Data_Path
  Journal_File
  Shadow
  Temp_Path
  Users_Txt

- SS.INI variables:

  Comment_Editor
  Comment_Template
  Editor
  File extension masks

Visual SourceSafe cannot use UNC paths in the following situations:

- Working directories.

- File dialog boxes:

  Add file
  Get
  Checkout
  Checkin

NOTE: These situations do not apply to Visual SourceSafe 5.0. You can use a UNC
name anywhere you can supply a pathname.


REFERENCES
==========

Query using the UNC keyword in Visual SourceSafe Books Online.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 
Technology        : kbSSafeSearch kbAudDeveloper kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.