tips and tricks for using visual studio.net effectively

Microsoft Visual Microsoft Visual Microsoft Visual Microsoft Visual Studio.NetStudio.NetStudio.NetStudio.NetTips Tips Tips Tips and Tricksand Tricksand Tricksand TricksTips Tips Tips Tips and Tricksand Tricksand Tricksand Tricks

to save you 10 minutes a dayto save you 10 minutes a dayto save you 10 minutes a dayto save you 10 minutes a day

Wei Li09/2006

If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axeI'd spend six sharpening my axeI'd spend six sharpening my axeI'd spend six sharpening my axe

- Abraham Lincoln

What do you What do you What do you What do you want most want most want most want most from from from from an IDE?an IDE?an IDE?an IDE?

It is just me -

Assist me write goodgoodgoodgood (hopefully) code fast fast fast fast andandandand happilyhappilyhappilyhappily

Let us make a great IDE Let us make a great IDE Let us make a great IDE Let us make a great IDE better better better better Launch VS.NET quicklyOrganize views and windowsChoose color scheme and fontChoose color scheme and fontMaster some shortcutsDo not repeat yourself using macrosExtend VS.NET using addinsUse command window

First thing first First thing first First thing first First thing first –––– save time on save time on save time on save time on start upstart upstart upstart upSay NO to the start page

Choose the right start up Choose the right start up Choose the right start up Choose the right start up optionoptionoptionoption

Show Start Page

Load last loaded solutionLoad last loaded solutionLoad last loaded solutionLoad last loaded solutionLoad last loaded solutionLoad last loaded solutionLoad last loaded solutionLoad last loaded solution

Show Open Project dialog box

Show New Project dialog box

Show Empty environmentShow Empty environmentShow Empty environmentShow Empty environment

Suppress the splash pageSuppress the splash pageSuppress the splash pageSuppress the splash pageIt probably does not bring you anything

good

Suppress the splash pageSuppress the splash pageSuppress the splash pageSuppress the splash page

Start VS.NET from command Start VS.NET from command Start VS.NET from command Start VS.NET from command promptpromptpromptprompt

C:> C:> C:> C:> devenvdevenvdevenvdevenv ////nosplashnosplashnosplashnosplash c:c:c:c:\\\\weiweiweiwei\\\\csharpcsharpcsharpcsharp\\\\proj1proj1proj1proj1\\\\proj1.slnproj1.slnproj1.slnproj1.sln

PrerequisitePrerequisitePut C:C:C:C:\\\\Program FilesProgram FilesProgram FilesProgram Files\\\\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003200320032003\\\\Common7Common7Common7Common7\\\\IDEIDEIDEIDE\\\\ into your path

Set the pathSet the pathSet the pathSet the path

Litter your desktop with a Litter your desktop with a Litter your desktop with a Litter your desktop with a solution shortcutsolution shortcutsolution shortcutsolution shortcut

Double click it to open the solution

A little more about working A little more about working A little more about working A little more about working with command promptwith command promptwith command promptwith command promptC:\>devenv /?

C:\>devenv c:\wei\trial\csharp\unit_test\unit_test.sln /build DEBUG/build DEBUG

Why? Automation and continuous integration

Views, windows, layoutsViews, windows, layoutsViews, windows, layoutsViews, windows, layoutsSolution View Property ViewServer View…Debug WindowDebug WindowOutput WindowTask List Window…Oh My!

Less is moreLess is moreLess is moreLess is more

Ever tried Alt + Shift + EnterAlt + Shift + EnterAlt + Shift + EnterAlt + Shift + Enter?

Organize the views and Organize the views and Organize the views and Organize the views and windowswindowswindowswindowsMake views/windows auto-hide

Bring them back with shortcuts and Bring them back with shortcuts and command window aliases only when they are needed

Link file under editing to Link file under editing to Link file under editing to Link file under editing to solution explorersolution explorersolution explorersolution explorer

Link file under editing to Link file under editing to Link file under editing to Link file under editing to solution explorersolution explorersolution explorersolution explorer

Disable the navigation barDisable the navigation barDisable the navigation barDisable the navigation bar

Little thing countsLittle thing countsLittle thing countsLittle thing countsAdd guide lines to Visual Studio.Net Text EditorSubtle effect: do not write a line which is too long

Add guide lines to Visual Add guide lines to Visual Add guide lines to Visual Add guide lines to Visual Studio.NetStudio.NetStudio.NetStudio.NetText EditorText EditorText EditorText EditorOpen regeditNavigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERHKEY_CURRENT_USERHKEY_CURRENT_USERHKEY_CURRENT_USER\\\\SoftwareSoftwareSoftwareSoftware\\\\MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft\\\\VisualStudioVisualStudioVisualStudioVisualStudio\\\\<7.1><7.1><7.1><7.1>\\\\Text Text Text Text

EditorEditorEditorEditorRight-click on the Text Editor key and choose New String Value and name it

"Guides" Set the value of the guides to RGB(92, 46, 46) 80, 100

Text editor Text editor Text editor Text editor colorcolorcolorcolor schemeschemeschemeschemeCustomize a combination which is best for

your eyes

Anyone likes the dark side of Anyone likes the dark side of Anyone likes the dark side of Anyone likes the dark side of Visual Visual Visual Visual Studio.NetStudio.NetStudio.NetStudio.Net????

Text editor color scheme Text editor color scheme Text editor color scheme Text editor color scheme samplesamplesamplesample

Source: http://seizethedave.com/etc/idehttp://seizethedave.com/etc/idehttp://seizethedave.com/etc/idehttp://seizethedave.com/etc/ide----color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif

Text editor color scheme Text editor color scheme Text editor color scheme Text editor color scheme samplesamplesamplesample

Source: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000682.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000682.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000682.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000682.html

Text editor color scheme Text editor color scheme Text editor color scheme Text editor color scheme samplesamplesamplesample

Source: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000682.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000682.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000682.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000682.html

Font for text editorFont for text editorFont for text editorFont for text editorChoose a font that works best for your

eyes

Font size for text editorFont size for text editorFont size for text editorFont size for text editorChoose a font size - I choose a larger font

size 14.

Why?Why?• Good for my eyes• Seeing a lot less code in the editor at a time helps

write better code. You naturally want see a whole method in one go. Seeing less code has the subtle effect of writing shorter and cleaner method.

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsTons of themLots of them you never useLots of them you do not careLots of them you do not care

Master 10 – 15 killers that you use all the time

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

Ctrl + SpaceCtrl + SpaceCtrl + SpaceCtrl + Space

Complete the current word or shows all available methods and properties for a class

Ctrl + Shift + SpaceCtrl + Shift + SpaceCtrl + Shift + SpaceCtrl + Shift + Space

Show the parameter information when the cursor is inside method parentheses

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

Ctrl + K Ctrl + ICtrl + K Ctrl + ICtrl + K Ctrl + ICtrl + K Ctrl + I

Show a quick description about whatever object the cursor is currently resting on

Show a quick description about whatever object the cursor is currently resting on

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

Ctrl + M + OCtrl + M + OCtrl + M + OCtrl + M + OFold all code

Ctrl + M + PCtrl + M + PCtrl + M + PCtrl + M + PExpand all folds

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

Ctrl+K Ctrl+CCtrl+K Ctrl+CCtrl+K Ctrl+CCtrl+K Ctrl+CComment out the selected code area

Ctrl+K Ctrl+UCtrl+K Ctrl+UCtrl+K Ctrl+UCtrl+K Ctrl+UUncomment the selected code area

Ctrl+K Ctrl+FCtrl+K Ctrl+FCtrl+K Ctrl+FCtrl+K Ctrl+FFormat selected code area

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

F7F7F7F7Code view

Shift + F7Shift + F7Shift + F7Shift + F7Design view

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

F8F8F8F8Next item in the task list or search results.

Killer usage:Killer usage:Killer usage:Killer usage:Search for something in the whole solutionFrom command window: grep “wordtosearch”Then hit F8 for the results

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

F12F12F12F12Go to definition

Shift + F12Shift + F12Shift + F12Shift + F12

Go to reference

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

Ctrl + FCtrl + FCtrl + FCtrl + FFind

Ctrl + Shift + FCtrl + Shift + FCtrl + Shift + FCtrl + Shift + F

Find in files

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsF5F5F5F5

Start with debugger

Ctrl + F5Ctrl + F5Ctrl + F5Ctrl + F5Start without debugger

Ctrl + F5Ctrl + F5Ctrl + F5Ctrl + F5Start without debugger

F10F10F10F10Step over

F11F11F11F11Step into

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

EscEscEscEscSet the focus back to code view (editor)

Ctrl + TabCtrl + TabCtrl + TabCtrl + TabGo to the next opened file in the text editor

And do not And do not And do not And do not forget forget forget forget

Ctrl + SCtrl + SCtrl + SCtrl + SSave the current fileNot just for VS.NET

Ctrl + Shift + SCtrl + Shift + SCtrl + Shift + SCtrl + Shift + SSave all modified files

And do not And do not And do not And do not forgetforgetforgetforgetShift + F10Shift + F10Shift + F10Shift + F10

= right clickBring up context menuIt works not only for VS.NETIt works not only for VS.NET

Create your own shortcutsCreate your own shortcutsCreate your own shortcutsCreate your own shortcutsToolsToolsToolsTools---->Options>Options>Options>Options---->Environment>Environment>Environment>Environment---->Keyboard>Keyboard>Keyboard>Keyboard

My customized shortcutsMy customized shortcutsMy customized shortcutsMy customized shortcutsalt + salt + salt + salt + s Solution viewer alt + calt + calt + calt + c Class viewer alt + palt + palt + palt + p Property Viewer alt + f alt + f alt + f alt + f Find File alt + o alt + o alt + o alt + o Opened file alt + o alt + o alt + o alt + o Opened file alt + aalt + aalt + aalt + a All members of the file alt + malt + malt + malt + m Methods of a file alt + valt + valt + valt + v Pending checking alt + ralt + ralt + ralt + r Output vieweralt + talt + talt + talt + t Options window alt + halt + halt + halt + h View history of the file under editing

ShortcutsShortcutsShortcutsShortcuts

List all shortcuts and print it out for reference

Use a macro available here:http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000315.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000315.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000315.htmlhttp://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000315.html

MacrosMacrosMacrosMacrosA series of commands and instructions grouped

together

Automate repetitive actions Automate repetitive actions

MacrosMacrosMacrosMacros

Create a macro

Run a macroRun a macro

Edit a macro

MacrosMacrosMacrosMacrosAssign shortcut to a macro

MacrosMacrosMacrosMacrosCreate a command alias for a macro

AddinsAddinsAddinsAddins

All killers no fillersAll killers no fillers

VSFileFinder2003 VSFileFinder2003 VSFileFinder2003 VSFileFinder2003 Find files quickly in large solution with many projects

Freely available from:http://zerohttp://zerohttp://zerohttp://zero----oneoneoneone----zero.com/vs/zero.com/vs/zero.com/vs/zero.com/vs/http://zerohttp://zerohttp://zerohttp://zero----oneoneoneone----zero.com/vs/zero.com/vs/zero.com/vs/zero.com/vs/

A must

VSFileFinder2003VSFileFinder2003VSFileFinder2003VSFileFinder2003

USysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPackCode browseFile browseSolution browse

Freely available from:http://www.usysware.com/DPack/Default.aspxhttp://www.usysware.com/DPack/Default.aspxhttp://www.usysware.com/DPack/Default.aspxhttp://www.usysware.com/DPack/Default.aspx

USysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPack

USysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPack

USysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPack

USysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPackUSysWare DPack

QuickCode .NETQuickCode .NETQuickCode .NETQuickCode .NETWrite code for youGive you more time to code other things that you really

want to spend time on

Available from:http://www.dvxp.com/en/QuickCode.aspxhttp://www.dvxp.com/en/QuickCode.aspxhttp://www.dvxp.com/en/QuickCode.aspxhttp://www.dvxp.com/en/QuickCode.aspx

QuickCode .NETQuickCode .NETQuickCode .NETQuickCode .NET

QuickCode .NETQuickCode .NETQuickCode .NETQuickCode .NET

QuickCode .NET QuickCode .NET QuickCode .NET QuickCode .NET ---- DemoDemoDemoDemowritemainforprivate fieldprivate fieldcomments (div, ///)create NUnit test class

TestDriven.NETTestDriven.NETTestDriven.NETTestDriven.NETIntegrate NUnit to Visual Studio.NET

Quick Demo

Will be covered in another talk

http://testdriven.net/http://testdriven.net/http://testdriven.net/http://testdriven.net/

SolventSolventSolventSolventRecursive Expand/Contract

Open All Sub Items

Open Containing Folder In Windows Explorer

Command Prompt Here

http://www.paraesthesia.com/blog/comments.php?id=602_0_1_0_Chttp://www.paraesthesia.com/blog/comments.php?id=602_0_1_0_Chttp://www.paraesthesia.com/blog/comments.php?id=602_0_1_0_Chttp://www.paraesthesia.com/blog/comments.php?id=602_0_1_0_C

VIEMUVIEMUVIEMUVIEMUvi-vim emulation for Microsoft Visual StudioVi/Vim is an text editor which allows you to edit code

quickly

Not a freeware

Not for everyone due to its key binding

http://www.viemu.com/http://www.viemu.com/http://www.viemu.com/http://www.viemu.com/

VIEMU VIEMU VIEMU VIEMU ---- DemoDemoDemoDemoh j k l h j k l h j k l h j k l ---- move around quicklymove around quicklymove around quicklymove around quicklygg gg gg gg ---- go to the beginning of a filego to the beginning of a filego to the beginning of a filego to the beginning of a fileG G G G ---- go to the end of a filego to the end of a filego to the end of a filego to the end of a file:15 :15 :15 :15 ---- go to line 15go to line 15go to line 15go to line 15

yy yy yy yy ---- copy a linecopy a linecopy a linecopy a linep p p p ---- pastepastepastepaste

:w :w :w :w ---- save the filesave the filesave the filesave the file:q :q :q :q ---- close a fileclose a fileclose a fileclose a file:qa :qa :qa :qa ---- close all filesclose all filesclose all filesclose all files

:prb :prb :prb :prb ---- build the projectbuild the projectbuild the projectbuild the project

AddinsAddinsAddinsAddinsBring up addins using shortcuts and command aliases

This makes addins really powerful

Command windowCommand windowCommand windowCommand windowThe hidden treasure of VS.NET

Can be used to do pretty much everything

My control center for VS.NET

Command windowCommand windowCommand windowCommand windowWhat can you do from command window?

Bring up views, windowsBuild project and solutionBuild project and solutionSearch for something…You name it

Command window Command window Command window Command window ---- DemoDemoDemoDemoImportant: create a shortcut to bring up command create a shortcut to bring up command create a shortcut to bring up command create a shortcut to bring up command

windows firstwindows firstwindows firstwindows first

Mine is alt + walt + walt + walt + wMine is alt + walt + walt + walt + w

Command windowCommand windowCommand windowCommand window

Create alias

Command windowCommand windowCommand windowCommand window

List all aliases

Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?

My question to youMy question to youMy question to youMy question to youWhat shortcuts, tips and tricks you use all the time?

Being productiveBeing productiveBeing productiveBeing productive

Tools matter but it is not only about tools. It is about a mind set.

Nobody has time for it. Make it. Dig it.It pays off.

If you save 10 minutes a dayIf you save 10 minutes a dayIf you save 10 minutes a dayIf you save 10 minutes a dayIs it a big deal?

Let us do the math:10 (minutes/day) * 300 (days)10 (minutes/day) * 300 (days)10 (minutes/day) * 300 (days)10 (minutes/day) * 300 (days)= 3,000 minutes= 3,000 minutes= 3,000 minutes= 3,000 minutes= 3,000 minutes= 3,000 minutes= 3,000 minutes= 3,000 minutes= 50 hours= 50 hours= 50 hours= 50 hours= One whole week= One whole week= One whole week= One whole week

Plus, chances are you will save more than 10 minutes a day!

Plus, you now can code in a better mental mood ☺