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Set Source Control Options

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Before you take advantage of the source control features built into SQL Server Management Studio, you should configure your source control options for the various environments in which you work.

You configure source control options by using the Options dialog box to configure one or more source control roles. A role consists of a general description of the setting in which you use SQL Server Management Studio, and the source control options associated with that setting.

For example, if you are an independent database developer, you generally do not create conflicts with other users by keeping files checked out after you check them in. Consequently, SQL Server Management Studio defines an Independent Developer role. For this role, SQL Server Management Studio automatically selects the Keep items checked out when checking in option.

Because you can define and customize roles, you can work in varying development settings without having to completely reconfigure source control every time you move from one setting to another.

To set source control options

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

  2. In the Options dialog box, expand Source Control, and then click the Plug-in Selection page.

    Current source control plug-in
    Select the source control you want to use from this list. The source control product client must be installed on this computer to appear on the list. If no source control clients are installed on the computer, the only selection available will be None. If you have installed Microsoft Source Safe, then the following plug ins are displayed:

    • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe

    • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe(Internet)

  3. Set login credentials for each source control role that you want to use. This page is only available if a source control plug-in is installed.

    Role Description
    Selecting one of these roles causes the appropriate source control options to be selected automatically.

    Role Description
    Visual SourceSafe Specifies that you want to use the settings most commonly used by Microsoft Visual SourceSafe users.
    Independent Developer Specifies that you are working independently.
    Custom Specifies that you have modified the settings for a role.

    Perform background status updates
    Automatically updates the source control signal icons in Solution Explorer as an item's status changes. If you experience delays when performing server-intensive operations, especially when opening a solution or project from source control, clearing this check box could improve performance.

    Login ID
    Specifies the user name to use to log in to the source control provider. If supported by your source control provider, this name will be filled in automatically in the Login dialog box to reach your source control server. To make this option active, disable automatic user logins by using your source control provider's administrator program, and then restart SQL Server Management Studio.

    Advanced
    Displays additional options for adding items to source control. These options vary depending on your source control provider. Help for these options is provided by the source control program.

  4. Select the Environment page.

  5. In the Source Control Environment Settings box, select the role on which you want to set source control options.

    SQL Server Management Studio automatically selects the default source control options for the role you have selected. If you clear any of the default options, the Source Control Environment Settings box displays the Custom option to indicate that you have customized the originally selected role.

    Source Control Environment Settings
    Specifies the role that you want to use. SQL Server Management Studio defines the following roles.

    Role Description
    Visual SourceSafe Specifies that you want to use the settings most commonly used by Microsoft Visual SourceSafe users.
    Independent Developer Specifies that you are working independently.
    Custom Specifies that you have modified the settings for a role.

    Selecting one of these roles causes the appropriate source control options to be selected automatically.

    Keep items checked out when checking in
    Specifies that when you check in items to update the source control store, the items should remain checked out to you. If you want to change this option for a specific check-in, click the Options arrow in the Check in dialog box, and then clear the Keep checked out check box.

    Checked-in items
    Displays a list of options that specify how SQL Server Management Studio should behave when you attempt to edit an item that is not checked out. The following tables describe the available options.

    Saving

    Action Description
    Prompt for check out Displays the Check Out dialog box.
    Check out automatically Checks out the item without displaying the Check Out dialog box. This is the default option.
    Save as Saves as a new file.

    Editing

    Action Description
    Prompt for check out Displays the Check Out dialog box.
    Prompt for exclusive checkouts Displays the Check Out dialog box.
    Check out automatically Checks out the item without displaying the Check Out dialog box. This is the default option.
    Do nothing Does not check out the file.

    Allow checked-in items to be edited
    Specifies that items that are checked in can be edited in memory. If you select this check box, an Edit button appears in the Check Out dialog box when you attempt to edit a checked-in item. After clicking this button, you can edit the item. If you attempt to save the item, you must check it out or save it to a different location.

    Reset
    Resets source control confirmation dialog boxes to their default settings. For example, if you have selected the Don't show this dialog again check box in a source control dialog box, selecting the Reset option reverses that action.

See Also

Source Control Basics
Change Source Control Connections
Exclude Files from Source Control