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
  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
  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
  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
  Describes how to get help on a command when working on the command line.

• How to: Perform a Simple Visual SourceSafe Command
  Describes how to run a basic command from the command line.

• How to: Redirect Output
  Provides instructions for changing the default output location for a command.

• How to: Start Visual SourceSafe Explorer from the Command Line
  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
  Provides a procedure for switching databases from the command line.

Related Sections

• Command Line Reference
  Describes each Visual SourceSafe command, the options with which it can be combined, and examples of its usage.

• Maintaining and Optimizing Visual SourceSafe
  Provides definitions and procedures for maintaining and optimizing Visual SourceSafe for your environment.

• Performing Basic Visual SourceSafe Tasks
  Provides instructions for using Visual SourceSafe to perform common database operations.