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Q158219: HOWTO: Use SourceSafe Over a RAS or ISDN Connection

Article: Q158219
Product(s): Microsoft SourceSafe
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.04,3.1,4.0,4.0a,5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbSSafe kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe600 kbFAQ kbSSafe310 kbSSafe304 kbSsafe600FAQ
Last Modified: 18-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit, for Windows, version 4.0a 
- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0a 
- Microsoft SourceSafe for Windows, versions 3.04, 3.1 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article lists a series of recommendations that will help you optimize using
SourceSafe over RAS, ISDN, or other modem connections.

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

In general, you want to minimize the amount of network communication that will
take place during typical SourceSafe operations. In addition, if you are not
using Visual SourceSafe 5.0, you should consider upgrading because version 5.0
contains a tremendous amount of optimization that may substantially improve your
RAS performance.

Tips for RAS Optimization
-------------------------

To optimize SourceSafe for use over a RAS, ISDN or other modem connection, you
should consider implementing some or all of the following recommendations:

NOTE: These are not listed in any particular order.

1. Do not use a Shadow Directory. The Shadow Directory would typically be
  located on a network server. Use of this option will increase the amount of
  data being sent over the network.

2. Do not use a Journal File. The directory that contains the Journal File would
  typically be located on a network server. Use of this option will increase
  the amount of data being sent over the network.

3. Do not use Project Security. If Project Security is enabled, every time a
  user selects a file or project, SourceSafe must query the RIGHTS.DAT file for
  information on the user's rights to that file or project. This increases the
  amount of data being sent over the network.

4. Use the Command Line rather than the SourceSafe Explorer. The SourceSafe
  Explorer will impede performance as it queries the Server for information
  such as glyphs to display, and so forth.

5. Configure SourceSafe to use a local SS.ini file. This will reduce the amount
  of information needed to be transferred over the network. Edit the USERS.txt
  file to change this line:

     USER_NAME=\USERS\USER_NAME\SS.INI

  to this line:

     USER_NAME=<local drive>\SS\USER\SS.INI

6. Configure SourceSafe to use a local Temp directory. This will reduce the
  amount of information needed to be transferred over the network.

7. Configure SourceSafe to compare files by CheckSum rather than Contents. This
  will reduce the amount of information needed to be transferred over the
  network.

  NOTE: There is no appreciable difference in the data transfer required to
  compare files by CheckSum or Time. The recommended method here would by
  Checksum because it is less prone to error.

8. Do not expand keywords locally. When this option is set, SourceSafe modifies
  the keywords of the file as it is checked-in to the Database. It then does a
  Get to update the local file with the keywords. Disabling this option
  eliminates the Get, thereby reducing the amount of information needed to be
  transferred over the network.

Additional query words: vss

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Keywords          : kbSSafe kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe600 kbFAQ kbSSafe310 kbSSafe304 kbSsafe600FAQ 
Technology        : kbSSafeSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword3 kbSSafe304 kbSSafe310 kbSSafe600 kbSSafe400 kbSSafe400a kbSSafe500 kbSSafe16bitSearch kbSSafe32bitSearch
Version           : WINDOWS:3.04,3.1,4.0,4.0a,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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