VSTS 2008 TFS Power Tools - October 2008 (aka 2.3) Released – Manage Source Files via Windows Shell/Explorer extension, new PowerShell extensions and Team Members tool

Microsoft Downloads - Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server Power Tools - October 2008 Release

Version:	2.3
Date Published:	11/7/2008
Language:	English
Download Size:	28 KB - 15.7 MB*

The Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server Power Tools is a set of enhancements, tools and command line utilities that improve the Team Foundation Server user experience.
The following tools are installed with the tfpt.msi package:

• Command line tool (TFPT.EXE)
• Team Explorer IDE menu additions
• Build Notification tool
• TFS Best Practices Analyzer
• Process Template Editor
• Work Item Templates
• Custom check-in policies
• TFS Server Manager
• TFS Users tool
• Alert Editor
• TFS Power Shell Extensions [GD: New in this release]
• TFS Windows Shell Extensions [GD: New in this release]
• Team Members Tool [GD: New in this release]

…”

bharry's WebLog - Oct '08 TFS Power Tools are Available!

“Yes, I know it's November now :(  We had originally planned to release them about two weeks ago but an early release to our MVP showed us that we still had work left to do to really get it ready.  You can read about all the cool new stuff in this release here: http://blogs.msdn.com/bharry/archive/2008/10/01/preview-of-the-next-tfs-power-tools-release.aspx.  We think the release is in pretty good shape but as I say in that post, this is a very big and very broad release.  As such we are expecting to have to do some mop up work in the next update.  At this point I'm expecting that to happen in late Jan or early Feb.  In the mean time, please let us know about any issues you hit so we can investigate them and fix them for the next release.

In addition to the major new features I listed in the post above (Team Members, Windows Shell Extension, Power Shell support, and Custom component download, tfpt unshelve /undo and BPA improvements), we have added a couple of new things.  The include:

tfpt searchcs - A new tfpt command that allows you to search for checkins, filtering by date, user, path, and string matches in the comment and checkin notes.  It's a very handy tool if you are looking for a checkin but aren't 100% sure what you are looking for.

Improved setup - The new setup now installs for "all users" rather than just the current user.  This was necessary because the Windows Shell Extension can only be installed for "all users".  That's not really an improvement, just a change :)  …”

bharry's WebLog - Preview of the next TFS Power Tools release

“…

There are 3 major new components to the October Power Tools release and the usual incremental improvements.

• Team Members - We've added a new node to the Team Explorer called "Team Members".  It appears under each Team Project and is used to identify who are the people who work on the project.  It serves as a "pivot point" for information about and operations on people and teams.
• Windows Shell Extension - We've built a Windows shell extension that allows you to do the core version control operations directly inside the Windows Explorer without using the Team Explorer.
• PowerShell Support - We've started working on a PowerShell pipeline and commandlets for TFS.  Our initial set support basic version control operations but over time we plan to add work item tracking, administration, build and more.

…”

This is a huge release. The TFS Power Toys have become more of a “must have” with every release, with this one just emphasizing that. The Windows Shell Extension alone is worth the price of admission (not that you have to pay for this as it is still free, but you get the idea)

 

Note that if you do a Setup Type – Custom, that the Windows Shell Extension is not selected by default, that you have to explicitly turn it on. I don’t know if the Setup Type – Typical installs it, but I would assume it does? (I’m testing that now on a different machine… If not, I’ll let you know) (NOPE, see below)

UPDATE: The “Typical” install does not seem to install the Windows Shell Extension. You need to select Custom and then explicitly select it, turn it on, etc for installation.

If you’ve already installed this version vi Typical, then go to Add/Remove Programs, and Modify the installation. From that point you can install the Windows Shell Extension (i.e. you don’t have to do a full uninstall/reinstall)

I’m sure this is mentioned somewhere in Barry’s posts, but if I missed it, then you might too… so…

 

(via <FreeToDev…/> - TFS Power Tools October 2008)

 

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