The Object Browser: Navigation and References

Keyboard:  CTRL + ALT + J (view object browser); ALT + RIGHT ARROW (forward); ALT + LEFT ARROW (back)
Menu:  View -> Object Browser
Command:  View.ObjectBrowser; View.ObjectBrowserForward; View.ObjectBrowserBack; View.ObjectBrowserAddReference
Versions:  2008,2010
Published:  8/28/2010
Code:  vstipTool0079

 

Continuing our look at the Object Browser we now turn our attention to the toolbar buttons to the right of the Browse area:

 

 

 

Navigation

The Forward (ALT + RIGHT ARROW) and Back (ALT + LEFT ARROW) buttons can be used to easily navigate among items in the Objects Pane:

 

There doesn't appear to be any obvious upper limit to how many times you can go back.  I have personally tried it to go back over 75 items with no end in sight.  The places will be remembered (and more added) as long as Visual Studio remains open regardless of which project/solution you are using.

 

 

 

References

You can add a reference to the currently selected item in the Objects Pane to your project:

 

 

Read the tooltip carefully.  Notice is says "Add to References in Selected Project in Solution Explorer".  This will confuse you when you try to use it for the first time because you will select a reference you want to add then find the button disabled (top right):

 

This is because you most likely don't have a project selected in Solution Explorer:

 

Simply click on (or in) any project and you will see the button become enabled.