This tutorial is the second part in a two part series on how to use Visual SourceSafe, a utility created by Microsoft, used for version control management. This second tutorial will cover some of the more advanced features of VSS...

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• One of the best things that VSS offers, is the ability to share files between projects. If you have a set of classes or modules that you want all your applications to have, this is a really easy way to do that. You don't have to manually make changes all over the place if you need to fix one bug in the shared source. Some examples of this kind of shared file, is a DirectDraw class, a DirectInput class, a sprite class, a RGB module (thanks Brian!!), an Error Handling module or anything else along these lines.
• Sharing files is a bit complicated to start, but one the files are shared, it makes your life a hell of a lot easier.
• I suggest creating one project in your VSS called "Shared Source" (or something along those lines). This project will act as a central area where you can view the status of all the shared source. There will never be a VB project associated with it, as it will only be specific to VSS.
• Within this Shared Source project, you can classify your code however you want (although, I wouldn't suggest putting all the source in the Shared Source project-directory...use sub-projects (sub-folders)). Perhaps split it up into classes and modules, and then within each of those, make a folder for what the code is...
• To share a file, first add the file (through VSS) to the location in the Shared Source directory that you've chosen (for the rest of this section, my example will be basRGB.bas stored in "$/Shared Source/Modules/dxRGB/"). This is done using the File->Add Files menu item.
• Once the file is stored into VSS, return to Windows, and copy the file into the project that you want to share that file.
• Open the project in VB, and add the file to the project (using techniques described in part one of this tutorial).
• Return to VSS, but this time as the Admin. Select the project to which you just added the file. Permanently delete the file from within VSS (this should only delete the VSS' copy of the file and not your local one, but maybe make a backup just in case).
• Now, find that file in the Shared Source project in VSS (for my example, highlight the "$/Shared Source/Modules/dxRGB/basRGB.bas" file).
• While holding down the right mouse key, drag the file to the destination project . When you release the mouse, a menu will pop up and then click Share.
• The file is now marked as being shared. If you do this for multiple projects (and always starting from the Shared Source project), you will have one file that is shared between multiple projects.

• Coming soon...UPDATE: Probably never...

• Coming soon...UPDATE: Probably never...

• Coming soon...UPDATE: Probably never...

• Coming soon...UPDATE: Probably never...