Version Control Tfs

Troubleshooting TFS Branching for Experimental Development - A Comprehensive Guide

If you’ve ever worked with Team Foundation Server (TFS) and faced issues during the branching process, you’re not alone. Many developers find themselves in a quagmire when they attempt to branch, merge, and then load their solutions into a new path. This blog post addresses a typical problem involving TFS branching operations, particularly in the context of experimental development.

The Problem at Hand

You may find yourself in a situation exactly like this:

  1. You have a source control structure organized into folders: /dev, /releases, /branches, and /experimental-upgrade.
  2. After branching from the dev folder into experimental-upgrade, you continue your work in dev and perform merges.
  3. Suddenly, you are prompted by TFS that it has detected changes in both branches that need resolving, which complicates your workflow.
  4. Upon attempting to open the main solution file in the experimental-upgrade branch, you encounter issues where some projects fail to load, leading to frustration.

The specific issues may include:

  • TFS attempting to download projects into unintended locations (e.g., the root of source control).
  • Errors when attempting to add existing projects to the solution with messages indicating that the project files have been deleted or moved.

Understanding the Root Cause

The core of the problem often lies in how TFS manages bindings and project paths. When you branch or merge, TFS creates links and dependencies that need to be correctly defined. Here’s a breakdown of what might be going wrong:

  • Binding Issues: If projects in your solution reference paths outside their expected directory structure, it can lead to failure when trying to load them.

  • Path Confusion: Projects that end up loading from the root of your source control can indicate that their bindings have been misconfigured.

To set things right, you’ll need to take a few organized steps.

Step-by-Step Solution to the TFS Branching Problem

Here’s how to troubleshoot and resolve the issues encountered:

1. Verify Branching and Merging

  • Ensure that your branching and merging operations were executed correctly. If TFS reported conflicts, double-check how you resolved them.
  • Use the TFS command line tools to investigate the branches and ensure they are accurately set up.

2. Inspect Your Solution File

  • Open the .sln file in a text editor. Check for any hardcoded paths that may point outside of your branches folder. Adjust them as needed.

3. Check Project Bindings

  • Use Visual Studio to examine the bindings of your projects:
    • Right-click on the solution in Solution Explorer.
    • Select “Change Source Control.”
    • Check if the bindings for the troublesome projects are set correctly and correspond to their location within the experimental-upgrade directory.

4. Handle Files with tf destroy

If necessary, TFS gives you options for managing projects and files, including deleting items:

tf destroy [/keephistory] itemspec1 [;versionspec]
           [itemspec2...itemspecN] [/stopat:versionspec] [/preview]
           [/startcleanup] [/noprompt]
  • Always use the /preview option first before executing a destroy command to ensure you’re aware of the ramifications of deleting items from source control.

5. Re-Add Projects Correctly

If you continue facing issues, you might need to re-add the projects:

  • Remove the problematic projects from the solution.
  • Use the “Add Existing Project” option, and make sure to navigate to the correct folder within the experimental-upgrade branch when selecting the project files.

6. Consult VSPSCC and VSSSCC Files

If you’re still having trouble, take a peek into the .vspscc and .vssscc files associated with your solution. These files store source control information for your projects. Ensure that the paths and settings align with your folder structure.

Conclusion

Dealing with TFS branching, especially when it involves experimental development, can be a tricky endeavor. Remember, the key is in maintaining clear and correct paths while managing project bindings effectively. With this guide, you should have a clearer path forward in resolving the loader issues and making the most of TFS’s branching capabilities.

If problems persist, consider reaching out to your team or seeking further assistance from TFS user forums as shared experiences can provide additional insights. Happy coding!