How to cancel another user check in TFS via the graphical interface?

Question

As a TFS resident administrator, sometimes I will be asked to cancel the check (usually a lock) that the user has in a specific file. This can be done via the command line using the TF.exe utility Undo command (see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/c72skhw4.aspx ), but it’s such a pain.

Is there a way to cancel another user check via the GUI?

Answer 1

Out of the box, but there are additional options through add-ons:

• TFS Power Tools (Visual Studio 2012)
• TFS Power Tools (Visual Studio 2013)
• TFS Power Tools (Visual Studio 2015)

After installation:

• Open source explorer
• Right-click the item on which you want to cancel the scan (or the parent folder of several files that you want to cancel)
• Select "Find in source control" and then "Status"
• In the Search Source Source dialog box, leave the Status field checked
• Optional, enter a value for the Wildcard text box
• If desired, enter the username in the "Display files extracted to:" text box and select this radio button
• Click Find
• This will lead to a list of files
• Select items to cancel.
• Right click and select Undo
• Click "Yes" when prompted "Discard all selected changes?"

Team Foundation Sidekicks

Another option is to use the Team Foundation Sidekicks application, which can be obtained here: http://www.attrice.info/cm/tfs/

It has a status proponent that allows you to request verified work items. After selecting a work item, there are the Undo Pending Changes and Undo Lock buttons that you can use.

Rights

Keep in mind that you will need the appropriate rights. The permissions are called Undo Changes by Other Users and Undo Changes by Other Users. These permissions can be viewed:

• Right-click the project, folder or file in the source explorer
• Select Properties
• Select the Security tab
• Select the appropriate user or group in the "Users and Groups" section at the top
• View the "Permissions for [user / group]:" section below

Answer 2

I had the problem itself, and I found an easier way to clean up old workspaces.

1) In visual studio, an open source explorer.

2) In the "Workspace" drop-down list, select "Workspaces ..."

3) A dialog box appears indicating the workspaces on your current PC. Select Show Remote Workspaces

4) Now you will also see workspaces from your previous PC (if they belong to the same user account). Select your old workspaces and click Delete. This should remove the old workspace from TFS along with any persistent checks.

I'm sure Arne found a solution, but I hope this helps other users solve this problem.

Answer 3

Command line

tf undo /workspace: OtherUserWorkspace;OtherUser $/TeamProject/MyFile.cs /s:http://YourTFSServer:8080 

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc470668.aspx

Answer 4

if you are using the tfs power tool cancellation procedure above, you need to do or get the latest screen update information. Otherwise, the cancellation did not seem to work. The operation completed successfully. Since the workspace Workspace, domain \ userID is not located on this computer, you must perform a separate get operation in this workspace in order to update it with the changes made on the server.