The Video Recorder uses the Expression Recorder 4 to record the video from the screen.

The result is a link that ends with .xesc that you will not be able to play.

What can we do in order to play it?

In order to play these files install one of the two:

1. Expression Encoder 4
2. Screen Capture Code

After installing One of the two Windows Media Player will be able to play these files.

Note: The second one is the codec only and is included in the first

Have Fun!!!

Its 4 in the morning and I am Working on sites migrations between two SharePoint Servers.

I decided to share my site migrations with you in order to keep me awake and because it is very interesting

So how do I do the magic?

It is very simple…

Step 1: Log-in to the old server

Step 2: Run a command line as administrator (Right click –> Run as admin)

Step 3: Get to c:\program files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\BIN

Step 4: Type – stsadm.exe –o export –url [site URL] –filename [yourfilename.cab]

For example: stsadm.exe –o export –url “http://myserver/sites/defaultcollection/mysite” –filename “c:\EranRuso.cab”

What about import?

Do the same thing just with import instead of export.

That is all…

Have Fun!!!

I hear this question a lot!!!

Microsoft in TFS 2010 has changed the rules in the Source Control, what happens now is when moving an Item or a Branch or using the Rename command all the history suddenly disappears.

When it happens the users are getting in to panic mode because all there history is not where they expect it to be…

So where is it and what do I need to do in order to see my history?

In order to see what happens lets create a similar situation where my history “disappears”:

I will take the branch Iteration 2 from Development folder to Release folder.

Checking the history of the branch shows me a big list of changesets.

Moving the branch…

Now lets check the history, you can see that I get only one result, the Move action.

So what happened? basiclly the history belongs to the “old” location so it staied there.

When moving an object from one location to another the system deletes the old location and creates the new one, what we get is that History is under the deleted location.

Lets check it now…

You can see that all the history is there…

You can use my post: “Show Deleted Items In TFS Source Control” to make the deleted files visible.

Have Fun!!!

I have been asked a few times about a Team Build 2010 guide.

I have taught on writing one and then I have seen this grate guide written by Ewald Hofman:

http://www.ewaldhofman.nl/post/2010/04/20/Customize-Team-Build-2010-e28093-Part-1-Introduction.aspx

I have only read chapters 2 and 4 but I could see that this is a very serious guide.

Ewald has done a very good job in covering all the important sections of the Team Build 2010, with very good explanations, step by step descriptions and good screenshots.

Have Fun!!!

WOW!!! what a release!!!

We have a LOT of new staff released this week…

The Release list for this week and three more important Releases:

• TFS 2010 SP1 – My post on this release: “Visual Studio 2010 SP1 and TFS 2010 SP1–What’s New? (Summary)”, Public Download
• Visual Studio 2010 SP1 - My post on this release: “Visual Studio 2010 SP1 and TFS 2010 SP1–What’s New? (Summary)”, Public Download
• Load Test Feature Pack - Gives you unlimited Virtual Users in Visual Studio Ultimate Edition, on that in my next post, MSDN Download Page
• Project Server Feature Pack – My post on this subject: "Team Foundation Server 2010 (TFS) and Project Server Integration Is Now Available In Beta", MSDN Download Page
• Power Tools – My post on this release: “New TFS 2010 Power Tools Are Available! (March 2011 Power Tools)”
• Team Explorer Everywhere SP1 – My post on this release: “Team Explorer Everywhere 2010 SP1 Release Version Is Available”
• Feature Pack 2 - My post on this release: “Feature Pack 2–Testing pack Is Available”

As you can see we have a lot of staff, what do we do with all these releases?, where do we install each of the releases?

Luckily Brian Harry came to the rescue with hi post: “Installing all the new stuff”

Note: For your convenience I have copied the most important parts of his post.

Have Fun!!!

On the client

Other than the restriction that you must install VS before any of the other things, there really aren’t any ordering requirements.  I’ve seen requests to enable “slipstreaming” of 2010 and 2010 SP1 – that’s creating a combined installer that installs both the RTM product and the SP1 together in a single installation experience.  Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to do that this release.  I won’t bore you with all the details but let’s just say that our install is complicated enough that it’s not easy and our infrastructure doesn’t support it well.  Getting into a position where this is something we can do as a matter of course is something we are striving for in our next release.

• VS 2010 and/or Microsoft Test Professional 2010
• VS 2010 SP1
• Team Explorer Everywhere 2010 with SP1
• Testing Feature Pack (includes Architecture & Modeling Feature Pack)
• Power Tools
• Windows SDK – beware that there’s an issue documented here.

On the TFS server

If TFS and VS are on the same machine they the must either both be updated to SP1 or neither.  We don’t support mixing SP1 and non-SP1 on the same machine.

• TFS 2010
• TFS 2010 SP1
• Make sure you upgrade your build machines to SP1 too – while not strictly necessary, it’s highly recommended.

On a Sharepoint Server associated with TFS

The Sharepoint Extensions for TFS need to be patched.  There was at least one very significant performance fix.

• TFS 2010 SP1

On a TFS Build Machine

• TFS 2010 Build Controller/Agent(s)
• TFS SP1
• VS SP1 (assuming you have VS installed on your build machine too – most people do).

On Project Server

• Ensure that TFS 2010 SP1 is installed on your TFS server
• Project Server Integration Feature Pack

On a Test Controller/Agent

• Test Controller/Agent Software (available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=a3216d2a-0530-4f6c-a7c9-0df37c54a902)
• VS 2010 SP1
• Virtual User License Key (available on your MSDN Subscriber Downloads) installed in the Test Controller config UI

On a TFS Proxy

To my knowledge, we didn’t actually make any SP1 fixes for the proxy so, in general, you shouldn’t need to install SP1.  If, however, the Proxy is installed on a machine with VS and you install VS SP1 then you will need to install TFS SP1 as well.  Consistency is required on the same machine.

• TFS Proxy
• TFS SP1

Brian Harry announced the release of new power tools (Click here to read it), each time I see a new power tools for TFS I get exited.

So what was changed in this release?

1. Finally they have fixed the Backup/Restore wizard that was released in the last power tools, so we can safely use it.
2. They have added new functionality to the power shell, I must say that I like this change the most in this release.
3. They have added some build capabilities to the Command Line
4. Bug Fixes

Downloads:

• Power Tools
• Build Extensions
• MSSCCI Plug-in (Was not changed)

Note: for you convenience I have copied the Features Description

Have Fun!!!

Alerts Explorer

A plug-in to Visual Studio, Alerts Explorer provides a graphical user interface that supports flexible subscription of alerts based on check-in, work item change, or build completion.

Team Foundation Server Backups

Updated! The tool can schedule backups for the following databases that your deployment of Team Foundation Server uses:

• the configuration database
• the database for each team project collection
• the databases that Team Foundation Server uses in conjunction with SharePoint Products, if your deployment includes integration with SharePoint Products
• the databases that Team Foundation Server uses in conjunction with SQL Server Reporting Services, if your deployment includes reports

By using the restore wizard included with this tool, you can restore your entire deployment to new hardware, or selectively restore team project collections to an earlier point in time.

Microsoft Team Foundation Server 2010 Best Practices Analyzer

To launch the Microsoft Team Foundation Server 2010 Best Practices Analyzer, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Team Foundation Server 2010 Power Tools, point to Microsoft Visual Studio Best Practices Analyzer, and then click TfsBpa.exe.

Updated! A diagnostic tool with a graphical user interface that you can use to perform the following actions:

• Verify that the deployment for Team Foundation Server is configured according to recommended best practices
• Identify the source of problems in an unhealthy deployment.
• Take a snapshot of the configuration of a deployment.
• Obtain usage data about the volume of data stored or accessed in the past 14 days. Includes specific information about database tables that have a tendency to grow and that may need to be reduced in size.

Custom Check-in Policy Pack

A supplemental set of four custom check-in policies to use to enforce software development practices during the check-in process.

Process Editor

An add-in to the Tools menu, the Process Editor provides a graphical user interface for editing Team Foundation Server process templates inside the Visual Studio IDE. This tool also provides a GUI for viewing the values assigned to all fields defined in a project collection.

Team Explorer Enhancements

This tool provides additional Visual Studio menu options and functions to support finding files under version control by status or wildcard, opening a folder using Windows Explorer from the Source Control Explorer context menu, and labeling files and folders in Source Control Explorer.

Team Foundation Power Tool (TFPT.EXE) Tool

Updated! A command line tool that you can use to work with files and directories under version control, team projects, and work items. Some commands display a graphical user interface when run.

Team Members

An add-in to Team Explorer, this tool allows you to organize users into sub-teams and access a number of collaborative tools, such as IM and email, sharing of queries and links, and downloading and installation of custom Team Foundation components.

Windows PowerShell Cmdlets for Visual Studio Team System Team Foundation Server

This tool provides a Windows PowerShell interface that supports basic version control commands and a pipeline and glue to enable scripting.

Windows Shell Extensions

Updated! This tool provides integration with Windows Explorer and the common file dialogs. With this integration, you can perform many source control operations without having to run Visual Studio or a Team Foundation command-line tool.

Work Item Templates

This tool provides an add-in to the Team menu and a folder under each team project node in Team Explorer. With this tool, you can create, apply, capture, set, and organize default work item templates.