St. Louis Days of .NET 2013: Visual Studio Tips and Tricks
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The document is a comprehensive guide by Kevin Grossnicklaus on tips and tricks for using Visual Studio .NET, covering various topics such as general tips, shortcuts, code editor tricks, advanced navigation, debugging practices, and external tools. It provides detailed keyboard shortcuts for various functions, efficient debugging techniques, code formatting methods, and organizational tools for better project management. The guide is aimed at enhancing the overall user experience for developers working with Visual Studio .NET.
St. Louis Days of .NET 2013: Visual Studio Tips and Tricks
- 1. Visual Studio.NET: Tips, Tricks, & Toys by Kevin Grossnicklaus
- 2. Agenda • • • • • • • • • • • Introduction General Tips Code Editor Tricks Searching Layout and Navigation Advanced Design-Time Tips Debugging Tips VS.NET Plug-Ins External Development Tools Additional Resources Questions?
- 3. Introduction • Kevin Grossnicklaus – ArchitectNow- www.ArchitectNow.net (2009-Present) • President – Washington University - CAIT Program (2003-Present) • Instructor – SSE - www.SSEinc.com (1999-2009) • Chief Architect • Software Development Practice Leader • Email: kvgros@architectnow.net • Twitter: @kvgros
- 4. Expectations • • • • What are we going to cover? Why is this something I should be aware of? Who can use this stuff? How detailed are we going to get?
- 5. GENERAL TIPS
- 6. Managing Shortcuts • Keyboard vs. Mouse • Verify your current environment settings – This talk assumes “General Development” • Manage keyboard shortcuts here: – Tools->Options->Environment->Keyboard • All settings (including shortcuts) can be imported and/or exported from: – Tools->Import and Export Settings
- 7. Keyboard Shortcuts • Standard Shortcuts: – Ctl-K – Ctl-Shift-O • “Chords” = Two character shortcuts – Written as: • Ctl-K,D or Ctl-K, Ctl-D
- 8. Shortcut Reference Posters • Visual Studio 2010 Keybinding Posters – http://www.microsoft.com/enus/download/details.aspx?id=13189
- 9. Top Level Shortcuts • • • • • • Ctl-Shift-N = New Project Alt-Shift-N = New Website Ctl-Shift-O = Open Project Alt-Shift-O = Open Website Ctl-Shift-A = Add New Item Alt-Shift-A = Add Existing Item
- 10. CODE EDITOR
- 11. Cut/Copy/Paste • Copy or Cut = Ctl-C or Ctl-X (respectively) – If no selection, cuts or copies the current line to the clipboard – If there is a selection, cuts or copies the selection to the clipboard • Tools->Options->Text Editor->All Languages->General • Uncheck the “Apply Cut or Copy Commands to Blank Lines When There is No Selection” option • Current Line – Ctl-L to cut the current line to the clipboard (including EoL) – Ctl-Shift-L to delete the current line
- 12. Cut/Copy/Paste (Cont.) • Paste = Ctl-V – Pastes the last item cut or copied into the editor at the current cursor location • Clipboard “Ring” = Ctl-Shift-V – Cycles through the previous 20 items cut to the clipboard and pastes them at the current cursor location – Accidentally cut or copy something you didn’t mean to? • Cycle through pasting until you get to the item you overwrote
- 13. Misc Selection/Insertion Commands • Ctl-Enter to insert a blank line above current line • Ctl-Shift-Enter to insert a blank line below current line • Ctl-W to select current word • Ctl-Delete to delete next word • Ctl-Backspace to delete previous word
- 14. Drag/Drop Code • Selections of code can be dragged around a code file or to different files – Hold Shift to “Copy” • Code can be dragged onto the Toolbox dockwindow in the “General” section and then dragged back onto other editors – These can be renamed to be more readable – This is a handy way to reuse sections of code
- 15. Weird Editor Shortcuts • • • • Ctl-T to transpose a character Ctl-Shift-T to transpose a word Alt-Shift-T to transpose a line Ctl-U to make current selection or character lowercase • Ctl-Shift-U to make current selection or character uppercase
- 16. Undo/Redo • Ctl-Z to Undo • Ctl-Y to Redo • Use the dropdowns for more granular control and information
- 17. Scrolling • Use the scroll bars or mouse wheel • Press mouse wheel to allow for 4-way navigation
- 18. “Go-Back” Markers and Navigation • • • • What is a “Go-Back” marker? Ctl-Minus to navigate backwards Ctl-Shift-Minus to navigate forwards Optionally use the toolbar buttons and dropdown boxes for more info
- 19. Navigation Bar • What is the navigation bar? • Ctl-F2 to select the navigation bar • Tab or Shift-Tab to switch between combo boxes once selected • Arrow keys to navigate down and enter to select • To enable/disable per language: – Tools->Options->Text Editor->All languages (or specific language)->General – Set the “Navigation Bar” option
- 20. Splitting Editor Windows • • • • Window->Split to split Window->Remove Split to remove Splitter can be resized via mouse F6 to switch between split panes
- 21. Line Numbers • Enable line numbers here: – Tools->Options->Text Editor->All languages (or specific language)->General – Check “Line Numbers”
- 22. Track Changes Tools->Options->Text Editor->General Check “Track Changes” What does this do? Yellow – Lines were edited since last save. Green – Lines were edited prior to last save. Yellow becomes Green after one save, close and re-open a file and Green is gone
- 23. Code Selection • Click and drag to select code via the common “stream” mode • Hold Alt-Shift and click and drag to select in “box” mode • Shift-Arrow Keys to manually select code in “stream” mode • Alt-Shift-Arrow Keys to manually select in “box” mode
- 24. Formatting • What does code formatting do? • Where can I adjust the settings? – Tools->Options->Text Editor->(Language)>Formatting • Ctl-K,D to format the current document • Ctl-K,F to format the current selection
- 25. Outlining • • • • Ctl-M,M to toggle outlining around cursor Ctl-M,L to toggle all outlining in current file Ctl-M,P to turn off outlining Edit->Outlining->Start Automatic Outlining to turn back on • Ctl-M,O to collapse to definitions • Selecting a collapsed definition allows you to cut and paste it as a whole
- 26. Remove Unused Usings • Right click in editor and select: – Organize Usings->Remove Unused Usings
- 27. Bookmarks • Ctl-K,K to toggle bookmarks on current line • Ctl-K,N to go to the next bookmark • Ctl-K,P to go to the previous bookmark • Ctl-K,L to clear all bookmarks • Ctl-K,W to view the bookmarks window • Organizing Bookmarks
- 28. Commenting • Handy Shortcuts: – Ctl-K,C = Comment Block – Ctl-K,U = Uncomment Block • XML Comments • Task List Comments – //TODO – //HACK – //UNDONE
- 29. Intellisense • Ctl-J to invoke statement completion (i.e. bring up Intellisense) • Ctl-Space or Alt-Right Arrow for statement completion
- 30. Smart-Tags • Ctl-Period to drop down a Smart-Tag menu – Enter to select the first item • Resolve Context Menu
- 31. Code Snippets • Ctl-K,X to bring up Code Snippet menu – Type-ahead supported – Or enter the snippet shortcut keyword and press Tab-Tab • Ctl-K,S to insert a code snippet around a selected block of code • Tab and Shift-Tab to switch between “tokens” • Ctl-K,B to bring up the Code Snippet Manager
- 32. Refactoring • Ctl-R,R to rename current item • Ctl-R,M to extract the currently selected code into a new method • Ctl-R,E to encapsulate field into a property • Ctl-R,I to extract interface from current class • Ctl-R,P to promote selected local variable to a parameter • Ctl-R,V to remove parameters • Ctl-R,O to reorder parameters
- 33. Call Hierarchy Window • To display: Ctl-K,T • Nice navigation between calling methods and methods called from the current method
- 34. SEARCHING
- 35. Searching - 1 • Incremental Search – Ctl-I – Start typing – Ctl-I again to jump to next occurrence • Current Word Search – Ctl-F3 to search for the currently selected word – Ctl-Shift-F3 to search for the current word looking backwards • Quick Find – Ctl-F to bring up Quick Find with current word as the default – Use Regular Expressions
- 36. Searching - 2 • Quick Replace – Ctl-H brings up the Quick Replace window with the current word as the default • Find Symbol – Alt-F12 brings up the Find Symbol dialog – Shift-Alt-F12 searches for the current word using the Find Symbol functionality but skips the UI
- 37. Searching - 3 • Find in Files – Ctl-Shift-F opens the Find in File dialog • Replace in Files – Ctl-Shift-H opens the Replace in Files dialog • Find in Files options
- 39. Document Windows • Document Windows = Tabbed Documents • Ctl-Alt-Down Arrow to drop down file tab channel • Tab Context Menu – Close All But This – Copy Full Path – Open Containing Folder • Tab Groups – Horizontal or Vertical • Windows Menu
- 40. Document Navigation • Ctl-Tab to display the IDE navigator – Ctl-Tab again to scroll through open documents – Ctl-Shift-Tab to scroll in reverse – Arrow keys or mouse to select a document or dockwindow • Ctl-F6 and Ctl-Shift-F6 to jump between currently open documents without using the IDE navigator (forwards and backwards) • Ctl-F4 to close the current document
- 41. Dock/Tool Windows • Docking Targets • Five “States” – – – – – Dockable Floating Tabbed Hide Auto-Hide • Alt-F7 and Alt-Shift-F7 to scroll (forwards or backwards) through all opened tool windows using the IDE navigator • Alt-F6 and Alt-Shift-F6 to scroll (forwards or backwards) through all opened tool windows without the navigator
- 42. Dock/Tool Windows (Cont.) • Tool windows that are hidden can be shown via their shortcut key or most are found under one of the following menu locations: – View – View->Other Windows – Debug->Windows
- 43. Window Layouts • Four Layouts: – Design View – Full Screen – Debugging View – File View • Shift-Alt-Enter to toggle between Full Screen mode and Design View
- 44. Toolbars • • • • Drag and drop customization Visible based on current context Right click to display any toolbar at any time Customization dialog – “Show Shortcut Keys in Screen Tips” – Full customization of all toolbars while this dialog is visible
- 45. Context Menu Customization • Complete editing of any context menus • Tools->Customize • Select Toolbars tab • Check “Context Menus”
- 46. ADVANCED DESIGN TIME TIPS
- 47. Quick Launch • In Title Bar • Ctl-Q to place cursor
- 48. Command Window • Ctl-Alt-A to open the command window • Enter a > to run any VS command from the command prompt – Full Intellisense for commands, arguments, and even file paths – Command aliasing • ? = Debug.Print • Enter “alias” by itself to see current aliases
- 49. Task Window • Custom Tasks • Task Shortcuts • Comment Tasks
- 50. External Tools • How to add external tools? – Redirecting console output to Output Window – Passing arguments
- 51. Code Definition Window • Ctl-,D to show the Code Definition Window • This window is a read-only source view of any symbol currently selected in the live editor. – Code can be copied from this window – Breakpoints can be set
- 52. DEBUGGING
- 53. Common Shortcuts • • • • • F5 to start debugging Ctl-F5 to start without debugging F11 to step into the current line F10 to step over the current line Shift-F5 to stop debugging
- 54. Breakpoints • F9 to toggle a breakpoint – Or, simply click in the left border of the code editor • Ctl-Shift-F9 to delete all breakpoints • Ctl-B to show Break at Function dialog
- 55. Breakpoints - Advanced • Breakpoint Context Menu – Location – Condition – Hit Count – Filter – When Hit
- 56. Next Statement Manipulation • Yellow arrow = “NEXT” statement to execute • Can be dragged to new location – Within Limits – Be careful
- 57. Debugging Threads • Ctl-Alt-H brings up the Threads tool window • At breakpoints all threads break together • Threads can be frozen/thawed from the Threads tool window – This keeps them paused when execution continues • Threads toolbar also exposes functionality
- 58. Break On All Exceptions • Ctl-Alt-E to bring up Exceptions dialog • It is common to break when a CLR exception is “thrown” – This will break even when the exception is caught by a try/catch block
- 59. Variables Windows • They Are: – Locals (Ctl-Alt-V,L) – Autos (Ctl-Alt-V,A) – Watch (Ctl-Alt-W,1-4) – Quick Watch (Ctl-Alt-Q) • All have similar functionality – All display values of variables and allow for inplace editing • Provides access to debugging visualizers
- 60. Runtime Variable Tooltips • Provides ability to view all of an objects properties and manipulate the values directly in the tooltip • Provides access to debugging visualizers
- 61. Debugging Visualizers • Special user interfaces used to view the values of specific data types in variable windows or runtime tooltips • Noted by the magnifying glass icon near the value – Click to open visualizer • Notable visualizers: – – – – Datasets Test XML HTML
- 62. Immediate Window • Ctl-Alt-I to bring up the Immediate Window • The immediate window can be used to execute statements and evaluate expressions in the context of the current statement – Access to any variable in scope is granted – Can assign values to variables, read values, execute methods, etc • Use the “>” character to allow entry and use of any VS commands (as in the Command window) • Command window has much of the same functionality
- 63. Son of Strike (SoS) • SoS is a debugger extension that is loaded with VS.NET and available from within the IDE from the Immediate Window • To load SoS: – Edit your project properties and, under the Debug tab, check the “Enable Unmanaged Code Debugging” – Open the Immediate Window and enter: • .load sos – For help, enter: • !help
- 64. Debugging The BCL • Microsoft has made many of the debug symbols for the Base Class Libraries available for public use – What does this mean? – Does this mean .NET is open source?
- 65. Debugging into the BCL • How can I hook this up? – Options->Debugging->General – CHECK “Enable .NET Framework Source Stepping” • Loading Symbols – From the Modules window or the Call Stack, right click on a BCL DLL and select “Load Symbols”
- 67. Extension Manager • Extensions and Updates • Common Ones I Use: – Microsoft Web Developer Tools – NuGet Package Manager – Productivity Power Tools 2012 – VSCommands for Visual Studio 2012 – Web Essentials 2012
- 68. Kevin Grossnicklaus President 636.236.3279 800.362.3919 x 101 kvgros@architectnow.net http://architectnow.net or @kvgros
- 69. Conclusion Thank you for coming!