Willy-Peter Schaub's Cave of Chamomile Simplicity

TFS - A few Common Questions

This post contains a few common questions and answers (hopefully) we have encountered in TFS installations.

Q. How should we structure our team projects, our solutions and our source repositories?

This is a topic we are very passionate, yet serious about. We have created a white paper and have posted the white paper and revisions as blog posts on Part 1 of 10, Part 2 of 10, Part 3 of 10, Part 4 of 10, Part 5 of 10, Part 6 of 10, Part 7 of 10, Part 8 of 10, Part 9 of 10 and Part 10 of 10.

Q. Can I work offline with TFS2008/VSTS2008?

• Developers can finally open a solution, that is bound to TFS Version Control, in offline mode, i.e. when not connected. Visual Studio will open the solution in offline mode and the “Go Online” item will appear as shown below.
  
• Once user is online to TFS again, the “Go Online” option can be selected and Team Explorer will resolve changes made in offline mode.
  
• This is a great feature in 2008, well worth mentioning to developers.

Q. How do I get a specific file and version from the version repository?

• To get a specific file, select the file in version control, right click and select Get Specific Version. Use the “type” drop down to select the version type, i.e. changeset or label, etc. Then “Get” the selected file.
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Q. How do I get specific files and version from the version repository?

• To get specific files, select two or more files in version control, right click and select Get Specific Version. Use the “type” drop down to select the version type, i.e. changeset or label, etc. Then “Get” the selected files.
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Q. What permissions are needed for users that have to create Team projects?

• Users must be a member of the TFS Team Foundation Server Administrators Group
• Users must be a member of the SharePoint Central Admins group.
• Users must have Content Manager Permissions in SQL Reporting Services.
• To set SharePoint permission:
  
• To set SQL Reporting Services permission:
  

Q. How can I test a new TFS Server installation?

1. The first test performed on a new TFS Server is to run the Team Foundation Server Best Practise Analyzer (Power Tools) tool, to obatin a detailed report on the environment.
2. The second test is basically to create a Team Project, which indirectly tests all the TFS servers. The basic steps are as follows:
   1. Create Team project
   2. Create simple solution, i.e. console application
   3. Check-in solution and project.
   4. Create incremental build that triggers on any check-in.
   5. Set the project alerts “Anything is checked in” and “A build completes”..
      
   6. Make a change to any of the project files.
   7. Check-in.
   8. Verify that (a) the build automatically starts and succeeds, and (b) that emails are sent to the relevant user. You should receive one for the check-in and one for the build.
   9. Verify that the project portal is accessible.
   10. Verify that the reports are working.
   11. Verify that work items can be updated and added.

Until next time, enjoy the power of TFS...