This training aid and reference manual assists casual users, software developers, and SourceSafe administrators in installing, configuring, and maintaining SourceSafe in a variety of development environments. A broad spectrum of topics are covered, from the basics of installation and maintenance, to more advanced features such as reporting, to very advanced features like automation. The book starts with the basics of installation and configuration and goes on to explain the theory behind SourceSafe. Thorough coverage includes using SourceSafe as a standalone tool and how to integrate it into other Microsoft products such as Visual Studio, Microsoft Office, and SQL Server. Common problems and their solutions are discussed for all of these environments. Also included are several advanced chapters: for developers, how to manipulate source code control features via Automation or the command-line interface, and for administrators, how to optimally test and
maintain SourceSafe data and security models. Numerous software and batch file examples, included in the body text and available for download, illustrate key points and provide a good starting point for anyone looking to customize and optimize their SourceSafe platform.

Average Customer Review: ( 12 customer reviews )
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- designing the project in VSS
- branching theory and practical examples
- pinning theory and practical examples
- basics of configuration management

The visual layout was tough too because whitespace was not used well. I found myself having to trace through with my finger to keep track of where I was. Would have liked to see it more like "Teach yourself VSS in 21 days".

14 of 16 found the following review helpful:

Severly lackingFeb 07, 2003
By S. Murphy
Not worth the price tag. It does a fair job of listing the dialog boxes and explaining them, but so does the help. It also lists the command line switches, but again, so does the help. The so-called "Advanced Features" alluded to in the synopsis is 23 pages label "Beyond the basics" - the help has essentially the same material. One star is generous.

13 of 15 found the following review helpful:

Totally disappointing!!!!!Dec 12, 2003

This book looks more like the online help. I am totally disappointed with this book. Unfourtunately I cannot return it because I got the ebook. I should have heeded to one of the reviews on this site about this book and not bought it. The MSDN resources give you a better understanding of how to use sourcesafe more effectively in a complex environment. This book lacks information on complex topics like sharing, branching, pinning and how to effectively use them. If you are looking for a printed version of the online help organised and worded bit differently then this book is for you, otherwise please stay away!!!

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:

An essential book for working with Visual Source SafeAug 23, 2002

I have found it difficult to find books that provide good information for automating various products. This is one of those rare books. In a fairly large project it became necessary to automate Visual Source Safe for some data versioning and storage. Without this book it would have taken weeks to get everything working correctly. Mr Roche's clear and succinct information regarding the automation of VSS was invlauable in getting this project completed. This is an excellent and very useful book.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Basic SourcesafeJul 08, 2005
By C. A. Luster "The Rook"
Whipple and Roche goe beyond the very limited Microsoft documentation. He actually explains real world applications and how SourceSafe works and doesn't work in a variety of situations. This is the manual that SourceSafe should have had. The addition of screenshots to give you a clear picture about what he is discussing is helpful. Why didn't MS do that? Because that would be user friendly. Don't get me wrong I love most of the stuff MS puts out, it's their documentation that stinks. Thank goodness for authors like Roche that put it in the proper perspective. If you are working with SourceSafe you will want this book. It may not give the tips that "Real World Software Configuration Management" does, but it has most of what you will need to administrate SourceSafe. I did expect a bit more for the price, but then books are just overpriced.

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