TFSSCExplorerExtension

FSSCExplorerExtension (Team Foundation Server Source Control Explorer VS 2010 Extension) is Visual Studio 2010 Extension Package that adds new features to the TFS Source Control Explorer window for TFS 2010. Most important new features are Drag & Drop support, Move and Branch functions even for multiple files selection and Merge from Sources feature.

I also released separate version for Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview here.

Move to Folder

Standard Move function requires entering new filename for selected file so this function is not supported for multiple files selection. New function Move to Folder requires entering or choosing only target location (Source Control folder) and can be used for multiple files.

After dialog confirm, files are moved to new location; filenames are kept same as in original files.

Branch to Folder

Similar to Move to Folder function this function requires entering or choosing only file location and therefore can be used for multiple files selection (unlike standard Branch function). Branches are crated to new location; filenames are kept same as in original files.

Merge from Sources

After activating this function shows folder tree with files that are branched to the selected folder (or folders/files in case of multiple selection). Dialog shows all branched files not only modified files. Files in tree can be selected, after clicking OK button are on all selected files executed Merge operation in TFS (unmodified files are ignored).

Note: Merge and Branch functions are in TFS used as replacement of File Share function in Visual Source Safe. Branch function is used e.g. from some common share location to your project (this can be simplified with new Branch to Folder function). FurtherMerge function is used to applied changes back to common share location. If we need update all files in project that has multiple files branched from various locations we can use exactly this function Merge from Sources. (In VSS this was done right away byGet Latest Version function that automatically updates all shared files too.)

File icon change

In the file list on the left side of Source Control Explorer window are branched files displayed with changed icon.

Icon is displayed at files that are target of Branch operation or if file is branched only to one location. If file is branched to more than one location its icon is changed to icon .

Drag & Drop

TFSSCExplorerExtension adds drag & drop support between file list in the left side and folder tree in the right side of the Source Control Explorer window (standard functionality is only drag & drop support from Windows Explorer). Dragging with left mouse button executes Move action to the target folder. Dragging with right mouse button opens context menu with Move, Branch andCopy options.

Move and Branch options perform above described functions. Copy option creates file copy to local workspace location and add file from this location to the source control.

Show / hide deleted items

It is context menu option for quicker switching on and off "Show deleted items in the Source Control Explorer" option normally accessible from Visual Studio Tool Options Dialog in Source Control TFS section.

Destroy

This option permanently removes files or folders from Source Control. It can be called for multiple items selection, on existing files or files previously deleted (with Show deleted items option on).

Source Control changes and fixes

Except above described new functions added to Source Control Explorer UI, TFSSCExplorerExtension contains some more features that change or fix TFS Source Control itself.

Those are:

• Get (Get Latest Version or Get Specific Version) operation changes file date to file Check In date (similarly to Visual Source Safe Get operation).
• After adding new file to Source Control, file read-only attribute is removed so file can be directly edited in Visual Studio Editor.
• After renaming file, refresh of Pending Changes tool window is forced. With standard functionality is renamed file displayed in Pending Changes window as two changes (two rows) and Check In operation can't be performed.