Re: lone writer and Source Safe

[Jo Francis Byrd <jbyrd -at- byrdwrites -dot- com>]

I was the lone writer for a small company; we were supposed to use VSS to
protect our files. Maybe it was installed or configured wrong (a very likely
possibility considering the person who installed it), or maybe it was because I
was doing help, but I found it such a nightmare I refused to use it. It
constantly screwed up my files, I could never get things checked in or out
properly. The two web designers also had problems using it and finally refused
to trust their files to it.

From other discussions, though, I know that others don't have any problems using
it.

Jo Byrd



Alison Tartt wrote:

> I'm the lone writer at a small software company, and I'm currently working on
> the print manual and online help for a new product. I'm doing all the
> documentation in Frame and will create the HTML help with WWP. I'm the only
> one in the company who uses these tools. All my files are in various
> directories stored on Server A, which is backed up every night. In writing the
> new documentation, I often pull from my older material for definitions,
> concepts, etc.
>
> A couple of members of the development team want me to work through Visual
> Source Safe, which is on Server B (also backed up every night). The rationale
> is that "everything will be in one place." I've resisted the idea because it
> seems inconvenient (my files will reside on different servers) and a bit
> unnecessary (because no one will be making changes to my material except me).
> But I don't want to seem like an inflexible member of the team.
>
> Has any lone writer out there used Source Safe and found it trouble-free?
> Since I haven't used VSS, I don't know the pros and cons for someone in my
> situation.
>
> Thanks,
> Alison