Enable Exclusive Checkout on Azure DevOps

Feb 6, 2019

What is Exclusive Check Out

If you’ve ever used ClearCase, pCVS, or TFS you may have used a workflow in which you check-out a file while you edit it. When you’re done with the file you check it in and others are free to check it out in order to edit it. The key idea: ONLY one person can edit a file at once.

But Why?

If you’re using git, you might wonder why someone would use a workflow like the one above. If you’re dealing with binary files, static content, or other assets that can’t be diffed.

Enabling Exclusive Check out in Azure DevOps

Set Azure DevOps project to use a TVCF Repository

You’ll need to add a TVCF Reoi (Screen shots pending)

Set Visual Studio

Setup Workspace

* Manage Workspace
* Select active workspace, click edit
* Click Advanced
* Ensure Location is set to Server
* Verify Server is set to dev.azure.com/<org>

Setup Team Explorer

* (under team explorer) clicked "Settings"
* (under "Team Project ")  click "Source Control" change type to “server” click ok
* (under “Team Project”) click “Source Control”  then uncheck "multiple check-out"
* (under “Team Project Collection”) click “Source Control”  click “Workspace Setting” select “Server” and unselect “enable asynchronous checkout…”  
* (Under “Solutions > Workspace ”  click the named workspace and select “Manage Workspace” click “edit” click “Advanced”  set Location to “Server”