How to work offline with TFS

Question

Our TFS server has some temporary connectivity issues right now, and as such VS has gone unresponsive, leaving 50+ developers unable to work!

Is it possible to switch TFS into an offline mode in the event of such an issue?

Answer 1

See this reference for information on how to bind/unbind your solution or project from source control. NOTE: this doesn't apply if you are using GIT and may not apply to versions later than VS2008.

Quoting from the reference:

To disconnect a solution or project from source control

1. In Visual Studio, open Solution Explorer and select the item(s) to disconnect.

2. On the File menu, click Source Control, then Change Source Control.

3. In the Change Source Control dialog box, click Disconnect.

4. Click OK.

Answer 2

If the code has already been checked out by the user that if offline and they have the latest version on their local hd, then they just need to browse to the solution location and open the solution by double clicking sln file. The solution will open in disconnected mode.

Answer 3

Simply, change the root folder name for your solution in your local machine, it will disconnect automatically.

Answer 4

plundberg: The "disconnect" button is only available for the TFS provider starting in VS 2008. Even then, I'm not sure if it's officially supported. The recommended way to use the Go Offline feature is to [re]open the solution.

Martin Pritchard: if you get stuck mid-operation, you can force VS to timeout by pulling the network plug (literally) or running ipconfig /release.

Once you're marked offline, here's a step by step guide to working in that mode: http://teamfoundation.blogspot.com/2007/12/offline-and-back-again-in-vs2008.html

More detailed info on tweaking the behind-the-scenes behavior: http://blogs.msdn.com/benryan/archive/2007/12/12/when-and-how-does-my-solution-go-offline.aspx http://blogs.msdn.com/benryan/archive/2007/12/12/how-to-make-tfs-offline-strictly-solution-based.aspx

Answer 5

Depending on which tool windows you have open, VS may or may not try to hit the team server automatically when it starts up.

For best results try this:

1. Close all instances of visual studio
2. Open an empty visual studio (no project/solution)
3. See which windows are opened by default, if source control explorer or team explorer or any other windows that use team are opened (and activated) by default, close them or switch them to a background tab.
4. Close visual studio

You should notice now that you can start visual studio without it trying to hit the TFS server.

I know its just an aside to your problem, but I hope you find this helpful!

Answer 6

The 'Go Offline' extension adds a button to the Source Control menu.

https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/6e54271c-2c4e-4911-a1b4-a65a588ae138