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When and how does my solution go "offline"?

  • Article

TFS 2008 adds improved support for "offline" scenarios.  This blog post identifies the scenarios under which a solution will be placed in "offline" mode.

  1. If the Visual Studio IDE is unable to connect to the TFS server when it is opening the solution, then it will mark the solution as being offline.  It will also mark the TFS server as being offline.

    A messagebox will be displayed indicating the solution was taken offline and a message to the same effect will appear in the Output window.

    -OR-

  2. If the Visual Studio IDE is opening a solution and finds the TFS server to which the solution is bound is marked as offline, then VS will mark the solution as being offline

    In this scenario, a message about the solution being opened offline will appear in the Output window, but no messagebox will appear.

 

NOTES

  • Offline detection is done ONLY during solution open.  Failures to connect to the server during other version control operations within VS do not affect the offline state of the solution or server.
     
  • The offline state for the solution is stored in the solution's local .suo file.
  • When the server is marked offline, we also turn off the server's "AutoReconnect" setting.
  • The server's offline state is stored in a registry value named Offline, and the AutoReconnect state is stored in in a value named AutoReconnect.  Both of these live under the key:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0\TeamFoundation\Servers\ <tfs server name>
  • A solution remains offline until it is explicitly taken online.
  • A TFS server remains marked offline until an offline solution bound to that server is taken online.
  • Opening a solution that was previously marked offline while its server is still marked offline opens the solution without any messageboxes appearing.  We will present a message in the Output window indicating the solution is still offline.
  • Opening a solution that was previously marked offline when its server is marked online presents the user with a messagebox asking if the user wishes to take the solution online.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    December 12, 2007
    Ben Ryan , a developer on the version control team, has written a couple of posts about the offline feature
  • Anonymous
    December 12, 2007
    Ben Ryan , a developer on the version control team, has written a couple of posts about the offline feature
  • Anonymous
    December 13, 2007
    Mickey Gousset on Go check out my first article at codeproject.com. Brian Harry on A new community project...
  • Anonymous
    March 10, 2008
    Buenas, cómo había comentado hace 2 días , el completo FAQ para la instalación y administración de TFS
  • Anonymous
    July 04, 2008
    Buenas, cómo había comentado hace 2 días , el completo FAQ para la instalación y administración de TFS
  • Anonymous
    July 04, 2008
    Buenas, cómo había comentado hace 2 días , el completo FAQ para la instalación y administración de TFS
  • Anonymous
    July 09, 2008
    Normally to reset your client's view of a TFS server from Offline to Online, you would 'Go Online' with
  • Anonymous
    November 24, 2008
    こんにちは！ フォーラム オペレーターの服部清次です。 あっという間に 3 連休が終わってしまいましたが、皆さんの連休はいかがでしたか？ 日頃の体の疲れはとれましたか？ 気分転換はできましたか？ 僕は、特に何をするでもなくノンビリした連休を過ごしました（苦笑）。
  • Anonymous
    January 14, 2009
    こんにちは！ フォーラム オペレーターの服部清次です。 ここ最近、朝の冷え込みが厳しいので、毎朝布団から出るのが一苦労です。 今も、「早く春にならないかなぁ、、、」なんてことを考えながら、このスレッドを投稿していたりします。。。
  • Anonymous
    May 25, 2010
    This was not enough information for me.  I am using VS2010.  The offline/online feature appears to be broken or stuck.  I cannot get the :Editing: Checkout Automatically" capability to function.  I have set the option, unset it, reset it.  I have removed and reconnected the TFS server.  But still I cannot get auto checkout working.  It scares me because I am certain I will not check in all my changes.  What am I to do?  I have several complaints about VS2010.  It feels like a lemon.
  • Anonymous
    April 09, 2011
    hi my friend by me if offline but the are online how can i see hi are online??
  • Anonymous
    April 28, 2011
    Since when MS products aren't lemons.. i can smell it a mile away...
  • Anonymous
    June 01, 2011
    The comment has been removed