How can I open a single changeset in TFS from within Visual Studio

Question

Someone emailed me a TFS changeset ID and now I am trying to open this single changeset. Is there an easy was to do this from within Visual Studio (VS 2008 if it matters)?

Answer 1

In Visual Studio a keyboard shortcut can be used for pulling up a specific Changeset or Work Item.

Go to Changeset

In Visual Studio open the Source Control Explorer window and while it has context press
Ctrl + G. Enter the number in the Go To Changeset dialog and press OK.

I know this works in VS 2010, 2012 and 2013, but recall this working as far back as at least Visual Studio 2008.

Go to Work Item

Pressing Ctrl + G when the Team Explorer Work Items window has context brings up the Go To Work Item dialog:

In Visual Studio 2012 and 2013 the TEAM menu contains an option Go to Work Item which also brings up this dialog.

Last Word

Visual Studio is a very contextual program and what happens when a specific keyboard command is used is oftentimes influenced by what window has context. To be clear pressing Ctrl + G when an editor window is open will present the Go To Line dialog.

As with many keyboard commands in Visual Studio your mileage will vary.

Answer 2

In the Source Control Explorer (View -> Other Windows -> Source Control Explorer):

1. Right click on the folder you want to grab
2. Click Get Specific Version
3. Change the dropdown from "Latest Version" to "Changeset"
4. Find your changeset on via the browse (...) button.
5. Change to search to changeset number

Just select the result and hit ok.

Alternatively, if you want to see what changes were in that changeset...

1. Go to the same Source Control Explorer
2. Click the History button (looks like a clock)
3. Scroll down the changeset list that appears, double click the one you want.

This will list the files changed in that changeset as well as notes the developer put.