TECHNICAL BRIEF

PVCS® Version Manager

Conversion Utility
For SourceSafe

Overview
Development teams purchasing an initial solution for software configuration
management (SCM) may opt for basic source code control as it suits immediate
development needs. As projects grow and organizations mature, these teams need to
manage larger projects across distributed environments, execute parallel development
flawlessly, and add integrated version management, issue management and process
management to their SCM solution.
To address these challenges, development teams need a solution that meets their full
SCM needs while providing access to existing source code control projects. For these
teams, PVCS Version Manager includes a utility that quickly and easily converts
Microsoft SourceSafe 5.0 and 6.0 projects to PVCS Version Manager nested projects
on Microsoft Windows 95/98 and NT platforms. This utility reduces migration time
and effort as multiple projects can be converted automatically, facilitating the
transition from basic source code control to the PVCS family of complete SCM
solutions.

Capabilities

Migrating Projects to PVCS Version Manager

The PVCS Version Manager Conversion Utility for SourceSafe can easily convert
SourceSafe 5.0 and 6.0 project databases to PVCS Version Manager nested projects in
one easy step from the command line. The conversion utility creates Version Manager
projects that correspond to the SourceSafe projects being converted, including
branched and shared files. To migrate projects to PVCS Version Manager using the
conversion utility, development teams first choose any SourceSafe file, archive, or
project such as the SourceSafe 5.0 project database called “src” shown in Figure 1.
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Figure 1: This is the “src" project database viewed within the SourceSafe user interface and selected for
conversion to PVCS Version Manager.

Once identified for migration to PVCS Version Manager, the chosen project is
specified at the command line. For instance the developer or SCM administrator
converting this project would type the command:
vss2pvcs -sr$/ -prd:\test2 -ppconvert
This command automatically converts the selected SourceSafe project database
viewed in Figure 1 to the PVCS Version Manager nested project in Figure 2. The
conversion maintains file history and user defined labels.

Figure 2: After using the Conversion Utility, developers can now access the "src" project from Version
Manager. All of the files in the converted "src" project are automatically listed in the upper pane on the
right side of the Version Manager user interface. The revision history for each file is automatically listed
in the lower pane.

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Moving Up the PVCS Development Power Curve

Once a project has been converted to PVCS Version Manager, teams can move up the
PVCS power curve to SCM solutions beyond basic source code control (Figure 3).
With PVCS, development teams can manage projects across heterogeneous and
distributed environments, execute parallel development flawlessly, and move up to a
complete SCM solution which includes version management, issue management and
integrated process management.

Figure 3: PVCS delivers best-in-class software configuration management today, and can grow to meet
your evolving needs over time. Enter the PVCS power curve at any point that matches your processes and
requirements, while preserving the flexibility to change in the future.

PVCS for heterogeneous, distributed development environments

PVCS provides SCM solutions that support geographically distributed developers on
multiple development platforms. For instance, once projects are converted to PVCS
Version Manager, team members on Windows and UNIX development platforms can
access the same projects from identical user interfaces.
In addition, geographically distributed teams can use the PVCS Plus solutions which
provide all team members secure, fast access to shared archives via a browser-based
interface. Project archives are protected by superior security including project
security options that are honored across all platforms and interfaces, layered security
including administrator-assigned access rights, and unsecured or secured
communications via HTTP and HTTPS.
The client/server SCM architecture of PVCS Plus solutions significantly improves
PVCS Version Manager performance for networked users. Because server-based
processing minimizes network traffic, using VM Server can boost performance as
much as fivefold on LANs and WANs.

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PVCS for flawless parallel development

Once projects are converted to PVCS Version Manager, development teams can
access superior PVCS parallel development features including visual differencing and
merging (Figure 4). This feature gives developers the capability of visually inspecting
differences in several branches of development, and reconciling the differences as they
merge branches. This tool speeds parallel development as it allows developers to
operate on multiple branches—not just two at a time.

Figure 4: The n-Way Visual Differencing and Merging tool allows development teams to merge multiple
branches of development quickly and visually.

PVCS for integrated SCM solutions

As teams grow and their development processes mature, solutions beyond basic source
code control become necessary. These solutions include integration of version
management and issue management solutions provided by the PVCS TrackerLink®
feature. Using TrackerLink, PVCS Version Manager and PVCS Tracker® users can
manage issues (including defects, changes, enhancements and project tasks) all
without having to leave the Version Manager graphical user interface. Overall project
information is enhanced, including the ability to link issues with code modules being
worked on (Figure 5). With TrackerLink, developers remain more focused on
development tasks and the issues driving changes.

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Figure 5: Integration of version management and issue management with PVCS Tracker through the
TrackerLink feature.

PVCS for integrated, process-based change management

In addition to integrated version management and issue management, PVCS provides
the highly integrated process based change management solution PVCS Dimensions.
PVCS Dimensions® can access Version Manager archives through the PVCS
TeamLink utility. With PVCS TeamLink® and PVCS Dimensions, teams with very
complex projects can take advantage of integrated version management, issue
management and process management which enables enforced development process
and impact analysis.

Summary
The PVCS Version Manager Conversion Utility for SourceSafe provides development
teams the capability of easily migrating to PVCS while saving time and migration
effort. Once SourceSafe projects are converted with the command-line utility, they are
accessible via PVCS Version Manager for improved for management across
distributed environments, flawless parallel development, and migration to a complete
PVCS SCM solution from application centric to process-based configuration
management. The PVCS suite matches customer processes and requirements and
preserves the flexibility to support future change. PVCS enables development teams
to be more productive, responsive and competitive by supporting the broadest range of
development environments and providing the industry’s most powerful and flexible
team development solutions.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

800-547-7827
pvcsinfo@merant.com
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Also available at authorized resellers.

Copyright (c) 1999 MERANT. All Rights Reserved.

Printed in the U.S.A. PVCS is a registered
trademark and PVCS Version Manager, PVCS
Dimensions, PVCS Tracker, TeamLink and
TrackerLink are trademarks of MERANT. Other
trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.

QTB00-P-0560

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