Service Release 1 (SR1) Update for Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Database Professionals has shipped

SR1 update for VSTS for Database Professionals is now released and available on Microsoft

This service release addresses the top issues that were found through feedback from customers and partners.

This release includes the following features:

• Cross-database references
  Support is improved to enable you to reference objects in different databases by using database project references or referencing a database metafile (.dbmeta). This support will reduce or eliminate the cross database reference warnings within a database project.
• Improved file support within SQL Server file groups
  You may define files within file groups as database project properties instead of having to create files and file groups within the pre-deployment storage script.
• Variables
  A Variables page is added to the database properties. This new page enables you to define setvar variables for use in the deployment scripts. Additionally, SR1 supports the latest service pack release from Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (SP2). The SR1 also supports the Windows Vista operating system.

TFS Migration and Synchronization Toolkit

V1.0 of the Migration and Synchronization Toolkit has been released on CodePlex !!

The purpose of the TFS Migration and Synchronization Toolkit is to enable customers of Team Foundation Server (TFS) to build custom tools that enable migration and synchronization with other version control (VC) and work-item tracking (WIT) systems. Customers have asked us for this toolkit to help them integrate TFS into their existing development environments. Please give it a try and let us know what you think.

VSTS for DB Professionals SP1 Pre-release

The DataDude team, aka the team that develops Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals, has just published a preview of their first service release.

It's not just bug fixes, they've included a number of new features:

• 3+4 part name resolution through a new feature called "database references"
• File groups and files are now part of the project settings and can e fully parameterize then to fit your deployment needs (this replaces the need for the storage deployment script)
• SQLCMD variable support; this is enable through a new project property page for creating and editing variables that you can then use inside your scripts. Variables are stored inside the project file and can be mapped to MSBuild properties.

More details will be coming soon, but in the meantime check it out.

TeamPlain is now Free for TFS Customers!!

As part of an acquisition made by Microsoft over devBix, TeamPlain is now free for TFS Customers. It can be downloaded here.

Check the PressPass.

Thanks Microsoft for the great addition ...

TeamPlain Web Access is a web interface for Microsoft® Team Foundation
Server that allows managing work items, shared documents, reports and source control repositories.

• Streamlines Team System usage
• Enables broader participation to development lifecycle
• Allows cross platform access to Team Foundation Server (TFS)
• Enables fine grained security configurations not present in TFS
• Helps organizations to leverage their Team System migration and adoptation

VS2005 SP1 Vista Update Now Available

VS2005 SP1 update for Vista is now available on download center.

You can download the update from Microsoft Downloads.

You've to apply VS2005 SP1 before applying this update on Vista.

TFS Power Tools Video

Ed Hintz, development lead on the TFS team, gave a demo of the newly released Team Foundation Server Power Tools v1.2.

Ed demonstrates a new tool for monitoring the status and uptime of TFS as well as a new Process Template Editor for visually customizing work item forms, workflow, and more.

The video is available on Channel 9

TFS Power Tool - Feb 2007

The Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server Power Tool (formerly known as Power Toys) is a set of enhancements, tools and command line utilities that improve the Team Foundation Server user experience.

This release includes two new command-line tools for the developer and three non-command line tools: a set of custom check-in policies, a build test task, and a process template editor. This version (1.2) includes some bug fixes to the Team Foundation Power Tool and adds the following functionality:

• Workspace Command (tfpt.exe) - Use the workspace command for additional workspace operations not supported in the currently shipping Team Foundation Server command line (tf.exe).
• Treeclean Command (tfpt.exe) - Use the treeclean command to see and optionally delete files in the current directory and all sub directories that are not under version control.
• Team System Process Editor - A tool integrated with Visual Studio that provides a convenient method of viewing and customizing process templates. When connected to Team Foundation Server, you can use this tool to customize work item type definitions and global lists on an active project.
• Check-in Policy Pack - A set of handy check-in policies to address needs customers have expressed.
• Build Test Tools Task - A tool that allows running unit tests by simply specifying the DLLs, or by specifying a file name pattern in TfsBuild.proj, instead of using .vsmdi files to specify tests to run.

A great addition to TFS. The Process Editor is really a great addition, you can check it's Forums here.

VSTS Project Integration Hotfix

When you assign a resource name in a Team Project in VSTS, the resource name may appear as two or more resources when you try to manage the Project in Microsoft Project.
This problem may occur when you use the comma delimiter to separate the last name, the first name, and the middle initial of a resource name in VSTS.

There is a Hotfix available now from Microsoft to fix this issue.

Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Released

After a long wait, VS2005 SP1 is now available on MSDN, the following are the available options

• Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite SP1 (includes SP1 updates for Standard, Professional, and Team Editions of Visual Studio 2005)
• Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server SP1
• Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions SP1
• Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Update for Windows Vista Beta

SP 1 provides over 70 improvements for common development scenarios including:

• New processor support (e.g., Core Duo) for code generation and profiling
• Performance and scale improvements in Team Foundation Server
• Team Foundation Server integration with Excel 2007 and Project 2007
• Tool support for occasionally connected devices and SQL Server Compact Edition
• Additional support for project file based Web applications
• Windows Embedded 6.0 platform and tools support