INFO: How SourceSafe Locks Files in the DATA Directory

SourceSafe can use two methods for locking files:

• Native: SourceSafe uses operating-system native locking mechanisms. This is the fastest method, but it may not operate correctly under all network configurations.
• Lockmode: SourceSafe creates files in the DATA\LOCKS directory indicating a database file is locked. This method is slower, but will work on all configurations. However, users must have delete rights to the DATA\LOCKS directory.

SourceSafe uses the native setting by default.

The following problems indicate you need to use the lockmode setting:

• The error "Error locking file."
• The error "Timeout locking file: <File Name>"
• SourceSafe seems to hang (stop responding) after performing an operation such as Checkout, Update, adding a file, or creating a project.

To solve these problems, change the locking method globally for all SourceSafe users by adding or changing the Lock_Mode setting in the SRCSAFE.INI (or in version 2.X, the SYSTEM.INI file).

Edit the SRCSAFE.INI file, which is located in the SourceSafe directory to add: In version 2.X, edit the SYSTEM.INI file in the SourceSafe directory to add:

Microsoft SourceSafe Concepts and Configuration Manual, Section 5

The SourceSafe Administrator