The Ultimate Visual Studio Tips and Tricks Blog
by Zain Naboulsi
Keyboard Navigation Between Output Window Panes
Command: Window.NextSubPane; Window.PreviousSubPaneVersions: 2008,2010Published: 9/21/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/21/2010
Stop the Toolbox from Auto-Populating from the Solution
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Windows Forms DesignerVersions: 2008,2010Published: 9/20/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/20/2010
How to Run External Executables from the Command Window
Command: Tools.ShellVersions: 2008,2010Published: 9/19/2010Code: vstipTool0089 Make sure to check...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/19/2010
Export Your Window Layouts
Menu: Tools -> Import and Export SettingsVersions: 2008,2010Published: 9/18/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/18/2010
How to Disable the IDE Navigator
Keyboard: CTRL + TAB; CTRL + SHIFT + TABCommand: Window.NextDocumentWindow;...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/17/2010
How to not automatically search for the currently selected word
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Find and Replace Versions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/16/2010
Edit Read-Only Files
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Environment -> DocumentsVersions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/15/2010
Detect When a File is Changed Outside the Environment
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Environment -> DocumentsVersions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/14/2010
How to Show and Hide Find Messages
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Find and ReplaceVersions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/13/2010
Replace in Files: Tagged Expressions
Keyboard: CTRL + SHIFT + HMenu: Edit -> Find and Replace -> Replace in FilesCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/12/2010
Replace in Files: Basic Options
Keyboard: CTRL + SHIFT + HMenu: Edit -> Find and Replace -> Replace in FilesCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/11/2010
Find in Files: Result Options
Keyboard: CTRL + SHIFT + FMenu: Edit -> Find and Replace -> Find in FilesCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/10/2010
Find in Files: Find Options
Keyboard: CTRL + SHIFT + FMenu: Edit -> Find and Replace -> Find in FilesCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/09/2010
Insert spaces vs. Keep tabs
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> [Language] -> TabsVersions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/08/2010
Automatic Delimiter Highlighting
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> GeneralVersions: 2008,2010Published: 9/7/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/07/2010
Mark Methods and Types as Hidden from IntelliSense and the Object Browser
Versions: 2008,2010Published: 9/6/2010Code: vstipTool0088 Are you thinking about developing for...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/06/2010
The Object Browser: Exporting Your Settings
Menu: Tools -> Import and Export SettingsCommand: Tools.ImportandExportSettingsVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/05/2010
The Object Browser: Type-Ahead Selection
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + JMenu: View -> Object BrowserCommand: View.ObjectBrowserVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/04/2010
The Object Browser: Creating a Keyboard Shortcut for Add to References
Command: View.ObjectBrowserAddReferenceVersions: 2008,2010Published: 9/3/2010Code: vstipTool0085 I f...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/03/2010
The Object Browser: Description Pane
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + JMenu: View -> Object BrowserCommand: View.ObjectBrowserVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/02/2010
The Object Browser: Members Pane
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + JMenu: View -> Object BrowserCommand: View.ObjectBrowserVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 09/01/2010
The Object Browser: Objects Pane
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + J Menu: View –> Object Browser Command: ...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/31/2010
The Object Browser: Objects Pane
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + JMenu: View -> Object BrowserCommand: View.ObjectBrowserVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/31/2010
The Object Browser: Search
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + JMenu: View -> Object BrowserCommand: View.ObjectBrowser;...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/30/2010
The Object Browser: Settings
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + JMenu: View -> Object BrowserCommand: View.ObjectBrowserVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/29/2010
The Object Browser: Navigation and References
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + J (view object browser); ALT + RIGHT ARROW (forward); ALT + LEFT ARROW...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/28/2010
The Object Browser: Browsing Scope
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + JMenu: View -> Object BrowserCommand: View.ObjectBrowserVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/27/2010
The Misnamed and Misunderstood Object Browser
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + JMenu: View -> Object BrowserCommand: View.ObjectBrowserVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/26/2010
Find Symbol Results Shortcuts
Keyboard: F12 (go to definition); CTRL + F12 (go to declaration); SHIFT + F12 (go to...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/25/2010
Class View and Object Browser Icons
Versions: 2008,2010Published: 8/24/2010Code: vstipTool0076 You will often encounter icons to...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/24/2010
Understanding Find Symbol
Keyboard: ALT + F12Menu: Edit -> Find and Replace -> Find SymbolCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/23/2010
Using Custom File Extension Associations
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> File ExtensionVersions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/22/2010
Open With
Menu: View -> OpenWithCommand: View.OpenWithVersions: 2008,2010Published: 8/21/2010Code:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/21/2010
Show Previous Versions
Versions: 2008,2010Published: 8/20/2010Code: vstipEnv0036 If you run a Windows Vista or better...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/20/2010
Sharing Snippets with Your Team
Keyboard: CTRL + K, CTRL + BMenu: Tools -> Code Snippets ManagerCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/19/2010
Understanding the File Open Location
Keyboard: CTRL + OMenu: File -> Open -> FileCommand: File.OpenFileVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/18/2010
Roll Your Own Item Template with the Export Template Wizard
Menu: File -> Export TemplateCommand: File.ExportTemplateVersions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/17/2010
Synchronize Your Class View
Command: View.SynchronizeClassViewVersions: 2008,2010Published: 8/16/2010Code: vstipTool0074 Ever...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/16/2010
Search in Class View
Keyboard: CTRL + K, CTRL + VCommand: View.ClassViewGoToSearchCombo; View.ClassViewSearchVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/15/2010
Create Folders in Class View
Menu: [Context Menu] -> New FolderCommand: View.ClassViewNewFolderVersions: 2008,2010Published:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/14/2010
Change Your Visual Studio Color Scheme
Menu: Tools -> Import and Export Settings Command: Tools.ImportandExportSettings...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/13/2010
Understanding Commands: Logging Commands
Command: log; Tools.LogCommandWindowOutput Versions: 2008,2010 Published: ...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/12/2010
Understanding Commands: Running Commands
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + A (command window); CTRL + ALT + I (immediate window); CTRL + D (find...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/11/2010
Understanding Commands: Arguments and Switches
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + A Menu: View -> Other Windows -> Command Window...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/10/2010
Proposed Book Title
The new book is entering its final stages before we start work in earnest. After much discussion...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/09/2010
Understanding Commands: Aliases
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + AMenu: View -> Other Windows -> Command WindowCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/09/2010
Understanding Commands: Simple Commands
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + AMenu: View -> Other Windows -> Command WindowCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/08/2010
Create a Shortcut Key for a Macro
Menu: Tools -> Options -> KeyboardCommand: Tools.CustomizeKeyboardVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/07/2010
Testing a Command
Keyboard: CTRL + ALT + AMenu: View -> Other Windows -> Command WindowCommand:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/06/2010
Keyboard Shortcuts: Reset All Your Shortcuts
Menu: Tools -> Options -> Environment -> KeyboardCommand: Tools.CustomizeKeyboardVersions:...
Author: zainnab Date: 08/05/2010