Upgrade from Visual SourceSafe

Upgrading your code projects, files, version history, labels, and user information from Visual SourceSafe to Team Foundation Server (TFS) or Visual Studio Online version control has many benefits for your team. TFS version control is a modern version control system that is fully integrated with the suite of ALM tools in Visual Studio 2012 and Team Foundation Server.

To upgrade data from your Visual SourceSafe database

1. Understand how VSS upgrade tools convert your data Team Foundation and Visual SourceSafe have significant functional differences. As a result, the VSS upgrade tools must modify certain kinds of data as it is upgraded.

2. Prepare to upgrade from Visual SourceSafe Before you start the upgrade process, it’s critical that you plan ahead and prepare your data.

3. Upgrade your data.

   • Upgrade from Visual SourceSafe using the wizard In most cases, you should use the VSS Upgrade Wizard. Advantages include:

     • A fast and easy-to-use step-by-step graphical interface.

     • Support for upgrading into a team project on either an on-premises Team Foundation Server or on Visual Studio Online.

   • Upgrade from Visual SourceSafe using the VSSUpgrade command-prompt tool You can use the VssUpgrade command-prompt tool to upgrade to an on-premises Team Foundation Server:

     • Using a script to upgrade your data.

     • While taking advantage of VssUpgrade features that are not available when using the wizard.

4. Take next steps after upgrading from Visual SourceSafe After the upgrade tool has finished processing your data, you should verify that the process led to the outcome you expected. You might need to take additional steps to complete the upgrade.