The Ultimate Visual Studio Tips and Tricks Blog
by Zain Naboulsi
Reorganize the Default Project Templates
Versions: 2008,2010Published: 11/7/2010Code: vstipProj0018 WARNING: Everything I'm about to show you...
Author: zainnab Date: 11/07/2010
Change the Templates That Appear in the New Project or Item Dialogs
Versions: 2008,2010Published: 11/6/2010Code: vstipProj0017 WARNING: Messing with the stuff mentioned...
Author: zainnab Date: 11/06/2010
The ResetSettings Switch
Versions: 2008,2010Published: 11/5/2010Code: vstipEnv0047 Visual Studio supports lots of switches...
Author: zainnab Date: 11/05/2010
Get Rid of the Splash Screen
Versions: 2008,2010Published: 11/5/2010Code: vstipEnv0046 Does the splash screen make you angry? Did...
Author: zainnab Date: 11/04/2010
Edit and Continue
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Debugging -> Edit and ContinueVersions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 11/03/2010
Virtual Brown Bag Sessions with Claudio Lassala
Most of you know I don’t “do” advertisements for the most part. I try to...
Author: zainnab Date: 11/01/2010
Start Debugging vs. Start Without Debugging
Keyboard: F5; CTRL + F5Menu: Debug -> Start Debugging; Debug -> Start Without...
Author: zainnab Date: 11/01/2010
Save Changes Before Building
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Projects and Solutions -> Build and RunVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/31/2010
Setting a Breakpoint with Code
Versions: 2008,2010Published: 10/30/2010Code: vstipDebug0036 There will be times you want code to...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/30/2010
Step Out Of or Over a Method
Keyboard: F10; SHIFT + F11Menu: Debug -> Step Over; Debug -> Step OutCommand: Debug.StepOver;...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/29/2010
Optimizing Your Project Code
Menu: Project -> [Project Name] PropertiesVersions: 2008,2010Published: 10/28/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/28/2010
Debug Executable Without Using Attach to Process
Keyboard: CTRL + SHIFT + OMenu: File -> Open Project/Solution; File -> Add -> New...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/27/2010
Attach To Process (Tools vs Debug Menu)
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + PMenu: Debug -> Attach to Process; Tools -> Attach to ProcessCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/26/2010
Understanding Just My Code
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Debugging -> GeneralVersions: 2008,2010Published: 10/25/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/25/2010
The Exception Assistant
Versions: 2008,2010Published: 10/23/2010Code: vstipDebug0030 The Exception Assistant appears...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/23/2010
Break All Processes When One Process Breaks
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Debugging -> GeneralVersions: 2008,2010Published: 10/22/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/22/2010
Properties Window Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard: F4; ALT + ENTER; (see tables below)Menu: View -> Properties; View -> Property...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/21/2010
Show All Settings (VB)
Menu: Tools -> OptionsVersions: 2008,2010Published: 10/21/2010Code: vstipTool0111 When you choose...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/21/2010
Switch Between Design and Source in Web Projects
Keyboard: SHIFT + F7Menu: View -> Designer; View -> MarkupCommand: View.ViewDesigner;...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/20/2010
Toggle Designer
Keyboard: F7Command: View.ToggleDesignerVersions: 2008,2010Published: 10/19/2010Code: vstipEnv0044...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/19/2010
Understanding the Navigation Stack (C#)
Keyboard: CTRL + SHIFT + 8 (backward); CTRL + SHIFT + 7 (forward)Command: View.PopBrowseContext;...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/18/2010
Make IntelliSense Transparent
Keyboard: CTRLVersions: 2008,2010Published: 10/17/2010Code: vstipEdit0077 Sometimes when you are...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/17/2010
Using Smart Tags from the Keyboard
Keyboard: CTRL + . (period)Command: View.ShowSmartTagVersions: 2008,2010Published: 10/16/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/16/2010
Moving Between Matching Braces (C#)
Keyboard: CTRL + ]Command: Edit.GotoBraceVersions: 2008,2010Published: 10/15/2010Code: vstipEdit0075...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/15/2010
The Watch Window: Hexadecimal Display
Menu: [Context Menu] -> Hexadecimal DisplayCommand: Debug.HexadecimalDisplayVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/14/2010
The Watch Window: Adding Watches from Variable Windows
Menu: [Context Menu] -> Add WatchCommand: Debug.AddWatchVersions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/13/2010
Understanding QuickWatch
Keyboard: SHIFT + F9Menu: Debug -> QuickWatchCommand: Debug.QuickWatchVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/12/2010
The Watch Window: Refreshing Data
Keyboard: SPACEBAR (refresh data)Menu: Tools -> Options -> Debugging -> GeneralVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/11/2010
The Watch Window: Visualizers
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + W, [1,2,3,4]Menu: Debug -> Windows -> Watch -> Watch...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/10/2010
The Watch Window: Moving Values Between Watch Windows
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + W,1; CTRL + ALT + W,2; CTRL + ALT + W,3; CTRL + ALT + W,4Menu: Debug ->...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/09/2010
The Watch Window: Watching and Changing Values
Keyboard: SHIFT + F9 (QuickWatch)Menu: Debug -> QuickWatch; [RIGHT CLICK] -> Add WatchCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/08/2010
Understanding the Autos Window
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + V, AMenu: Debug -> Windows -> AutosCommand: Debug.AutosVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/07/2010
Change Values from the Locals Window
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + V, LMenu: Debug -> Windows -> LocalsCommand: Debug.LocalsVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/06/2010
Changing Context in the Locals Window
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + V, L; CTRL + 5; CTRL + 6; CTRL + 7 Menu: Debug -> Windows ->...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/05/2010
The Immediate Window: Implicit Variables
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + I Menu: Debug -> Windows -> Immediate Command: Debug.Immediate...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/04/2010
Undock and Dock a Single Tool Window in a Group
Keyboard: ALT + -, F (VS2010 Only); ALT + -, K (VS2010 Only)Menu: Window -> Float; Window ->...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/03/2010
Exporting Your Command Window Aliases and External Tools List
Menu: Tools -> Import and Export SettingsCommand: Tools.ImportandExportSettingsVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/02/2010
The Immediate Window: Running Commands
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + I (immediate window); >[command] (run command)Menu: Debug -> Windows...
Author: zainnab Date: 10/01/2010
The Immediate Window: Running WinDbg and SOS (Son of Strike) Commands
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + I Menu: Debug -> Windows -> Immediate Command: Debug.Immediate...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/30/2010
The Immediate Window: Design-Time Breakpoints
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + I Menu: Debug -> Windows -> Immediate Command: Debug.Immediate...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/29/2010
The Immediate Window: Working with Members
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + I Menu: Debug -> Windows -> Immediate Command: Debug.Immediate...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/28/2010
The Immediate Window: Simple Printing and Changing Values
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + I Menu: Debug –> Windows –> Immediate Command: ...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/27/2010
Using the Find/Command Box Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard: CTRL + D (find); CTRL + G (go to line); CTRL + SHIFT + G (go to line); F9 Command:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/26/2010
Create Keyboard Accelerators for External Tools
Keyboard: ALT + T, EMenu: Tools -> External ToolsCommand: Tools.ExternalToolsVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/25/2010
Show All Settings with Visual Basic Settings
Menu: Tools -> OptionsCommand: Tools.OptionsVersions: 2008,2010Published: 9/24/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/24/2010
New Project Dialog Preferred Language
Menu: Tools -> Import and Export SettingsCommand: Tools.ImportandExportSettingsVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/23/2010
Navigate Task List Entries with the Keyboard
Command: View.NextTask; View.PreviousTaskVersions: 2008,2010Published: 9/22/2010Code: vstipTool0092...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/22/2010
Coding Faster: Getting More Productive with Microsoft Visual Studio
I’m very pleased to announce the new title of the book Sara Ford and I are working on. The...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/21/2010