DEV330

Visual Studio .NET IDE Tips and Tricks

Billy HollisAuthor / consultant

Agenda

A tour of the Visual Studio IDECustomizing window layoutsThe code editorUseful OptionsThe Server ExplorerUsing and extending HelpMacrosMiscellaneous tips and tricksIntroducing VS.NET Power Toys

A tour of the IDE

Two types of windows - editor/designer and tool windowsComponent TrayToolbox/Server ExplorerSolution Explorer / Help WindowsProperty Window / Dynamic HelpTask List / Debug / Output WindowsClass View, XML / HTML editors

Customizing Window Layouts

Rearrangement Docking / undockingAutohideNotice difference in dragging tab vs. dragging title barRight click to make floating only – e.g. Search/Replace window

Navigate with Ctrl-TabRestore window layout in options

The Code Editor

OutliningOutlining menuCtrl key shortcuts (Ctrl-M, Ctrl-O, Ctrl-L)

RegionsNumbering lines (built-in macro)Word wrap (Ctrl-R toggles it)Clipboard ringGo back, go forwardAlt-drag for rectangular selectionIncremental Search (Ctrl-Alt-i)

Useful Options

Startup behaviour

Option Strict On for all new projects

Fonts / colors (I use Lucida Console for text editor)

Default location of solutions

Dynamic help

Items in MRU list

Server Explorer

Performance Counter

Event Log

Start / Stop Windows Service

Database tables and fields

Show / edit stored procedures

Drag stored procedure to get command object

Using and Extending Help

Favorites

Change font size for Help

Help in external Internet Explorer

TOC, Index, Search tools

Help Filters

Integrating your own help contentDownload VSHIK authoring kit from MSDN

New topics display just like original help, and appear in index topics and search lists

Macros

Record macros, similar to Word

Macro IDE (Visual Basic code only)Step through macros while executing

Hook keystroke to macro

Sample macros included with VS.NET

Miscellaneous Tips and Tricks

Drag code snippets to tool box

Right-click to reset property

Task list - right-click for description tooltip

Edit while debugging

Old style toolbox

Return to start page

When in customize mode, can resize text elements in the toolbars (works in Word, too)

Command Line Switches

Devenv /?

Devenv /command

Devenv /safemode

Devenv /setup

Introducing…Visual Studio Power Toys!

Cool utilities that extend the IDE

Developed by the Visual Studio team

Available on GotDotNethttp://www.gotdotnet.com/team/ide

Discussion forms

Signed binaries

Full source available

Give us your feedback!

Visual Studio PowerToys 1

VSTweak

VSEdit

VSWindowLayouts

Visual Studio PowerToys 2

VB CommenterAdd XML doc comments to VB Code

Can be used to generate Help files

Custom Help BuilderCreate Help content for VS

Create setup to deploy & install content

Future Visual Studio PowerToys

VSMouseBindings

VSCMDShell

VSTransparency

Coming soon to the Visual Studio PowerToys site on GotDotNet!

Ask The ExpertsGet Your Questions Answered

Billy will be in the Ask the Experts booth Wednesday afternoon from 14:00 to 16:00

Community Resources

Community Resourceshttp://www.microsoft.com/communities/default.mspx

Most Valuable Professional (MVP)http://www.mvp.support.microsoft.com/

NewsgroupsConverse online with Microsoft Newsgroups, including Worldwidehttp://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx

User GroupsMeet and learn with your peershttp://www.microsoft.com/communities/usergroups/default.mspx

evaluationsevaluations

© 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.© 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.This presentation is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.This presentation is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.