Knowledge Base

PRB: Read-Only Files in Shadow Folder Are Not Updated

Article ID: 176732

Article Last Modified on 10/20/2003

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 4.0a
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 5.0 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q176732

SYMPTOMS

Files that are marked read-only in a shadow folder are not updated if the "Set read-only flag for all files" check box is not selected.

CAUSE

In the Visual SourceSafe Administrator, the "Set read-only flag for all files" check box is selected by default on the Shadow Folders tab under the Tools/Options menu. This allows Visual SourceSafe to mark files as read- only in the shadow folder. It also allows Visual SourceSafe to modify the contents of read-only files in the shadow directory when files are checked in.

If the file in the shadow directory is marked read-only and the "Set read- only flag for all files" check box is not selected, the error "access to file <Shadow location>\<filename> denied" occurs and the contents of the file in the shadow directory are not updated.

RESOLUTION

Make sure that files in the shadow directory are not marked read-only if you are not using the "Set read-only flag for all files" flag.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create a project and add files, or use an existing project in Visual SourceSafe.
In the Visual SourceSafe Administrator (ssadmin.exe), on the Tools menu click Options, click the Shadow Folders tab, and then set a shadow folder for the project referred to in Step 1.
Clear the "Set read-only flag for all files" check box.
Make sure the shadow directory is populated (this should happen automatically). You may have to do a get of the project files to the shadow folder.
Using the Windows Explorer or the attrib command, make the files in the shadow directory read-only.
Check out a files, make a change, and then check in a file in the project. You will see the error "Access to file <Path to Shadow Dir>\<filename> denied."

Keywords: kbssexplorer kbprb KB176732