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Q155976: PRB: Output from SourceSafe Command Lines Is Truncated

Article: Q155976
Product(s): Microsoft SourceSafe
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.04,3.1,4.0,4.0a,5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe600 kbSSafe310 kbSSafe304
Last Modified: 01-MAY-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft SourceSafe for Windows, versions 3.04, 3.1 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When using certain combinations of the SourceSafe Command line to display
information, filenames may appear truncated. This will occur if the filename
being displayed is greater than 19 characters in length.

CAUSE
=====

It may be desirable to redirect or print the output from certain SourceSafe
Command lines. To ensure that this output appears in a presentable format, long
filenames may be truncated to maintain an even columnar layout.

RESOLUTION
==========

The above truncation will appear only against files that are checked out. Files
containing greater than 19 characters that are not checked out will have their
entire filename displayed.

As an alternative, you can instruct SourceSafe to display filenames in their 8.3
DOS format. This option will display the entire DOS filename. For example,
running the Command line:

  SS DIR -E -NS

against the database described in the Steps to Reproduce Problem section of this
article will generate output that uses the file's 8.3 DOS format name. All other
information is displayed as expected. -NS instructs SourceSafe to use "short"
filenames, -NL is used for long filenames.

NOTE: When using short filenames in SourceSafe, you may combine the -NS switch
with other Command line options, such as ADD, CHECKIN, and CHECKOUT.

STATUS
======

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

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

Steps to Reproduce Problem
--------------------------

1. Create or locate a file whose name contains more than 19 characters.

2. Run or switch to Visual SourceSafe and add the file from step 1 to the root
  project ($/).

3. Check out the file, and then Close Visual SourceSafe.

4. Open a DOS window.

5. If you are running Visual SourceSafe, switch to the VSS\WIN32. Otherwise,
  switch to the SS\WINNT directory.

6. Enter the following Visual SourceSafe Command line:

  SS DIR -E

  Note that the first 19 characters of the added file are displayed while the
  remaining characters are truncated. This same effect is visible from other
  SourceSafe commands such as:

  SS STATUS

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe600 kbSSafe310 kbSSafe304 
Technology        : kbSSafeSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword3 kbSSafe304 kbSSafe310 kbSSafe600 kbSSafe400 kbSSafe400a kbSSafe500
Version           : WINDOWS:3.04,3.1,4.0,4.0a,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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