Default Command, Group, and Toolbar Placement

Note

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For product uniformity and stability, the UI displays certain command groups by default, and Visual Studio provides definitions for commands and command groups. VSPackages can also use the standard commands and command groups.

The default command groups fall into three categories: IDE commands, product commands, and editor commands.

Default IDE Commands

The default IDE toolbar includes commands shared by all products contained in Visual Studio. These include commands relating to generic project operations, such as the Save command and the Add Item command. VSPackages should not add to or subtract from this toolbar, with one exception: If the product or VSPackage adds a new tool window, then the window should be added to the list of available tool windows on the View menu. New products or VSPackages can add their own toolbar.

Default Product Commands

Each product can provide the IDE with its own default toolbar that contains important and frequently used commands. It is best, however, to use existing menus and toolbars whenever possible and supplement them with other task-specific toolbars as needed.

The priority field for a toolbar determines its row placement. Zero priority places the toolbar on the third row (row 3), beneath the menu bar (row 1) and the Standard toolbar (row 2). Therefore, other toolbars appear at row (priority + 3). Subsequent toolbars are placed on the same row, if there is room; otherwise, they are automatically moved to the next row.

Default Editor Commands

A VSPackage that provides a custom editor should provide a default toolbar that contains the most important and frequently used commands in that editor. The editor toolbar should appear when the editor is active and should be hidden when the editor is not active. This visibility is controlled in the VisibilityConstraints Element of the .vsct file.

Editor toolbars should be placed below IDE and product toolbars.

See Also

IDE-Defined Commands, Menus, and Groups
How VSPackages Add User Interface Elements