Rollback an Issue in TFS: A Step-by-Step Guide
In any software development project, issues are bound to arise. It could be a bug, a feature request, or any other change that needs to be made to the codebase. These issues are typically tracked and managed using a version control system, such as Team Foundation Server (TFS). However, there may be instances where a change needs to be rolled back due to various reasons. In this article, we will discuss how to rollback an issue in TFS, step-by-step.
Step 1: Identify the Issue to be Rolled Back
The first step in the process is to identify the issue that needs to be rolled back. This could be a bug that was introduced in the latest release or a feature that was not working as expected. Once the issue has been identified, make a note of the changeset number associated with it. This will be crucial in the next steps.
Step 2: Determine the Rollback Strategy
Before proceeding with the actual rollback, it is important to determine the rollback strategy. There are two approaches to rolling back an issue in TFS – using the Rollback command or by manually reverting the changes.
If the issue is a minor one and can be easily fixed, manually reverting the changes might be a better option. However, if the issue is complex and has multiple changes associated with it, using the Rollback command would be a more efficient approach.
Step 3: Rollback the Changes Using the Rollback Command
To rollback the changes using the Rollback command, follow these steps:
1. Open the Source Control Explorer in TFS.
2. Right-click on the file or folder that contains the changes you want to rollback.
3. Select the Rollback command from the context menu.
4. In the Rollback dialog box, select the changeset number associated with the issue.
5. Click on Rollback to initiate the process.
This will revert the changes made in the selected changeset and will create a new changeset with the reverted changes. This new changeset will have the prefix "Rollback" followed by the original changeset number.
Step 4: Verify the Rollback
After the rollback process is complete, it is important to verify that the changes have been successfully rolled back. This can be done by checking the file or folder in the Source Control Explorer. The changes made in the original changeset should no longer be present.
Step 5: Resolve any Conflicts
In some cases, the rollback process may result in conflicts. This could happen if the changes made in the original changeset have been merged with other changes in subsequent changesets. In such cases, conflicts will need to be resolved manually before the rollback can be completed.
Step 6: Check-in the Rollback Changeset
Once the rollback has been verified and any conflicts have been resolved, the final step is to check-in the rollback changeset. This will permanently revert the changes made in the original changeset and will update the codebase to its previous state.
In conclusion, rolling back an issue in TFS can be a simple and straightforward process if the correct steps are followed. By identifying the issue, determining the rollback strategy, and using the Rollback command, developers can easily revert any changes and maintain the stability of the codebase.
