Using the Visual SourceSafe Command Line
The Visual SourceSafe command line utility SS supports most commands available through Visual SourceSafe Explorer, and some that are only available on the command line. The command line is often used by programmers who find typing commands faster than launching Visual SourceSafe Explorer and using menus. Details of the SS utility are provided in SS Utility.
The most important difference between the SS utility and the graphical user interface is that the command line requires some setup steps that the user interface does not. For example, when you merge two files from the command line, you risk losing unsaved changes permanently because the SS utility does not back up both files automatically. In contrast, Visual SourceSafe Explorer saves a backup of both files automatically so that you do not lose unsaved changes upon merge.
The Visual SourceSafe command line supports some commands that are not available in either Visual SourceSafe Explorer or Visual SourceSafe Administrator. For example, it supports a Physical command, which is generally used by Microsoft Product Support Services for diagnostic purposes.
One of the most important uses of Visual SourceSafe commands is in batch operations that implement common or repetitive tasks. Batch operations from the command line are particularly useful for administrators or developers who need to execute several Visual SourceSafe commands in succession, for example, when performing database maintenance.
In This Section
- About Visual SourceSafe Commands
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Provides general information about the command line utility SS and the syntax, options, output, and help for the available commands.
- How to: Avoid Prompts on the Command Line
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Describes ways to set the command line so you are not prompted for your user name and password.
- How to: Create a Visual SourceSafe Batch File or Script
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Provides a general procedure and example for creating a batch file or script using command line commands.
- How to: Get Help for Visual SourceSafe Commands
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Describes how to get help on a command when working on the command line.
- How to: Perform a Simple Visual SourceSafe Command
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Describes how to run a basic command from the command line.
- How to: Redirect Output
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Provides instructions for changing the default output location for a command.
- How to: Start Visual SourceSafe Explorer from the Command Line
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Describes how you can use the SSEXP utility to start Visual SourceSafe Explorer from the command line.
- How to: Switch Databases from the Command Line
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Provides a procedure for switching databases from the command line.