Microsoft KB Archive/159777

= Invalid syntax error when you log on to Visual SourceSafe =

Article ID: 159777

Article Last Modified on 12/12/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 5.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q159777



SYMPTOMS
When you log on to Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, you may receive the following error message:

Invalid Syntax on line  of the file  \SS.INI

If you try to log on to Visual SourceSafe by using the command line, you receive the following error message:

Invalid Syntax on line  of the file  \SS.INI Too many SS.INI environment settings

In both error messages,  is a placeholder for an integer.



CAUSE
In Visual SourceSafe 5.0, this problem occurs only if your Ss.ini file references settings for more than 10 computers.

In Visual SourceSafe 6.0, this problem occurs only if your Ss.ini file references settings for more than 24 computers.



RESOLUTION
Manually edit your Ss.ini file:
 * For Visual SourceSafe 5.0, reduce the number of references to computer names to 10 or less.
 * For Visual SourceSafe 6.0, reduce the number of references to computer names to 24 or less.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
In Visual SourceSafe, user settings such as window size and window state, are all saved to the user's Ss.ini file. This behavior preserves the appearance of the Visual SourceSafe Explorer from one Visual SourceSafe session to another. The computer name identifies each entry.

If you log on through ComputerA, your Ss.ini file might contain entries that are similar to the following:

Maximized (ComputerA) = No

PrjWidth (ComputerA) = 260

If you log on through ComputerB later, your Ss.ini file might contain entries that are similar to the following:

Maximized (ComputerA) = No

PrjWidth (ComputerA) = 260

Maximized (ComputerB) = Yes

PrjWidth (ComputerB) = 300

You can log on to Visual SourceSafe through 10 different computers successfully (in this example, ComputerA through ComputerJ). However, if you try to log on through an eleventh computer (in this example, ComputerK), you receive the error message that appears in the "Symptoms" section.

Steps to reproduce the problem
 In a text editor such as Notepad, open your Ss.ini file. Your Ss.ini file is located in the \\Vss\Users\ folder. Modify this file so that it contains references to 11 or more different computer names for Visual SourceSafe version 5.0 (or 25 or more different computer names for Visual SourceSafe version 6.0). You can do this by copying one line and then pasting it back into the file 10 times and then modifying each line to make it unique. The following are some example entries:

Hist_Rect (Computer1) = 188, 225, 721, 561, 1024, 768

History_File_Columns (UI) = 75,85,135,100

Maximized (Computer1) = No

mssccprj = *.vbp, *.mak

OutputHeight (Computer1) = 150

Position_Toolbar (Computer1) = 222, 183, 676, 215, 1280, 1024

PrjWidth (Computer1) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer2) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer3) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer4) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer5) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer6) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer7) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer8) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer9) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer10) = 260

PrjWidth (Computer11) = 260

Toolbar (Computer2) = Yes

 Log on to Microsoft Visual SourceSafe

Keywords: kberrmsg kbssafe600fix kbprb KB159777

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