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How to: Edit a File

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When you want to modify a Visual SourceSafe file, you can check it or its parent project out of the database, as described in How to: Check Out a File or Project, and edit the file in your working folder. Alternatively, you can edit the file using the Edit File command on the Edit menu, which opens an editor program and allows you to modify the file directly without having to navigate to your working folder. To edit a file, you must have the Add/Rename/Delete right for the parent project.

Security noteSecurity Note

Some types of files, for example, executable files, Web page files, and script files, might contain viruses or scripts that can be harmful to your computer. If you need to open these kinds of files using any program other than the default SourceSafe editor, you must be certain that the file is from a trustworthy source.

After you are finished editing a file, you will want to save your changes to the database using the Check In command. For more information, see How to: Check In Changes to an Item.

To edit a checked-out file from your working folder:

  1. If necessary, set the default editor program, as described in How to: Change the Default Editor.

  2. In Visual SourceSafe Explorer, check out the file.

  3. In your working folder, double-click the file to open it for modification.

  4. Edit the file according to the instructions for the selected editor program.

To edit a file directly:

  1. In Visual SourceSafe Explorer, select the file to edit.

  2. On the Edit menu, click Edit File.

  3. In the File dialog box, select the Check out this file and edit it in your working folder check box.

  4. In the Use box, you can specify the editor program in which to edit the file. The registered editor for Windows is the default. If no editor is registered with Windows, the SourceSafe editor is used.

  5. Click OK and edit the file as required. The file remains checked out by default until you check it back in to the database.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Change the Default Editor
How to: Check In Changes to an Item
How to: Check Out a File or Project

Reference

File Dialog Box (Explorer and Plug-in)