FIX: Error message when you use the Get Latest Version option in Visual SourceSafe 2005 to try to obtain the latest version of an XML file: "SourceSafe was unable to finish writing a file"

When you use the Get Latest Version option in Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 2005 to try to obtain the latest version of an XML file, you receive the following error message:Additionally, when you run an analysis report on the Visual SourceSafe database, you receive the following error message:Note In this error message, File_Name represents the name of the file in which the error has occurred, and Number represents the version number of the file in Visual SourceSafe.

This problem occurs because Visual SourceSafe does not correctly record the differences in the XML file versions if one of the following actions has occurred:

• A byte marker has been added at the beginning the file.
• The byte marker has been removed from the beginning of the file.

One or the other of these actions occurs when you save the file in UCS Transformation Format 8 (UTF-8) encoding. The action occurs whether or not you save the file by using a signature.

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

The following list contains prerequisites for the hotfix:

• Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 2005

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix replaces the following update:

• VSS RTM (8.0.50727.42)

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.