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Q266429: BUG: "Invalid DOS Path" Error with VSS Command Line GET

Article: Q266429
Product(s): Microsoft SourceSafe
Version(s): WINDOWS:5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbSSafe500 kbSSafe500bug kbSSafe600 kbSSafe600bug _IK kbGrpDSSSafe
Last Modified: 01-MAY-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you execute a Visual SourceSafe command line GET with the -gf switch on a
file, if the working folder does not exist, you may receive the following error
message:

  Invalid DOS Path

CAUSE
=====

The GET command assumes that the working folder has already been created.

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, execute the following commands:

  " ss get $/project1 -gf -g-
  ss get $/project1/test.txt -gf " (without the quotation marks)

The first command creates the directory structure, and the second command does a
GET on the Test.txt file.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article.

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

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
---------------------------

1. Create a project named project1, and place a file named Test.txt in the
  project.

2. Set the working folder for project1 to C:\project1.

3. When you receive the message "C:\project1 does not exist, do you want to
  create it?", click OK.

4. Delete C:\project1.

5. From a command line, type the following (execute this command from the
  Vss\Win32 folder):

  " ss get $/project1/test.txt -gf " (without the quotation marks)

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbSSafe500 kbSSafe500bug kbSSafe600 kbSSafe600bug _IK kbGrpDSSSafe 
Technology        : kbSSafeSearch kbAudDeveloper kbSSafe600 kbSSafe500
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbnofix

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

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