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Arguments for External Tools

Arguments are variables within the integrated development environment (IDE) that are assigned values when you launch an external tool. Links to external tools such as Notepad or Spy++ can be listed on the Tools menu using the External Tools dialog box.

Note

The IDE status bar displays the Current Line and Current Column variables to indicate where the insertion point is located in the active Code Editor. The Current Text variable returns the text or code selected at that location.

Name

Argument

Description

Item Path

$(ItemPath)

The complete file name of the current source (defined as drive + path + file name); blank if a non-source window is active.

Item Directory

$(ItemDir)

The directory of the current source (defined as drive + path); blank if a non-source window is active.

Item File Name

$(ItemFilename)

The file name of the current source (defined as file name); blank if a non-source window is active.

Item Extension

$(ItemExt)

The file name extension of the current source.

Current Line

$(CurLine)

The current line position of the cursor in the editor.

Current Column

$(CurCol)

The current column position of the cursor in the editor.

Current Text

$(CurText)

The selected text.

Target Path

$(TargetPath)

The complete file name of the item to be built, (defined as drive + path + file name).

Target Directory

$(TargetDir)

The directory of the item to be built.

Target Name

$(TargetName)

The file name of the item to be built.

Target Extension

$(TargetExt)

The file name extension of the item to be built.

Project Directory

$(ProjDir)

The directory of the current project (defined as drive + path).

Project file name

$(ProjFileName)

The file name of the current project (defined as drive + path + file name).

Solution Directory

$(SolutionDir)

The directory of the current solution (defined as drive + path).

Solution file name

$(SolutionFileName)

The file name of the current solution (defined as drive + path + file name).

Binaries Directory

$(BinDir)

The directory containing the core runtime components (defined as drive + path).

See Also

Tasks

How to: Launch Tools from Visual Studio

Reference

Arguments Dialog Box

Change History

Date

History

Reason

April 2011

Added $(BinDir).

Customer feedback.