How to google from the context menu of the Visual Studio 2015 code editor - ide

how can I modify Visual Studio 2015 to be able to search the internet (my fav search engine happens to be google) from the context menu in the code editor?
Ideally, I would like it to open as a new tab in my (default) external browser, because the internal web browser is still...lacking, shall we say?
I found one extension "web search" for older VS, but I have found no extension that works with VS 2015. I found no article that still works.
For comparison, when you're in Chrome, you can select some text, right click and say Search Google for 'what you selected'.
I think this would be handy when learning new technologies from a project that uses those technologies, or just for help.

Ok this turned out to be fairly easy. I just added a tool to Tools, External Tools
Command: C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
Arguments: https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#newwindow=1&safe=active&q=%22$(CurText)%22
I enclosed the $(CurText) variable around quotes (%22) so that it would search on the exact phrase.
Then, to make it more accessible and actually put it in the context menu (and other places), I clicked the Move Up button to make it the first command, then customized the Standard toolbar to include Tools.External Command 1. I also added it to Other Context Menus | Html Context and Editor Context Menus | Code Window
Then I also went into Tools, Options, Keyboard and associated Tools.ExternalCommand1 with Alt+G
IMPORTANT: Because Visual Studio (still, in 2015) doesn't save some modifications to the IDE until it shuts down, you need to shut down all other instances of VS and then lastly shut down the instance that you used to enact these IDE modifications for them to "stick". And, if VS 2015 is like previous versions, be prepared for the menu / toolbar modifications to simply go away one day, at which point you'll just have to redo them.

Related

Ctrl+Shift+Tab in Visual Studio 2017

I'm using Visual Studio 2017 and have followed the instructions in this answer to change the behaviour of Ctrl+Tab and Ctrl+Shift+Tab to switch to next and previous tab, respectively.
Problem is, while Ctrl+Tab works fine, Ctrl+Shift+Tab only switches to the previous tab when the current document is not a Web Form or similar (e.g. master page). On those pages, the combo switches between Source, Design and Split view instead. How can I disable this behaviour?
I've looked through the keyboard shortcuts in Visual Studio settings and haven't found any others that are mapped to that combination. I've even disabled Web Forms designer (so only Source view is available), but it doesn't help, Ctrl+Shift+Tab simply doesn't do anything then.
Set the shortcut keys for the Window.PreviousTabAndAddToSelection command in the HTML Editor Source View (instead of Global) to Ctrl+Shift+Tab. This has the minor side effect of selecting the previous tab when navigating away from a web form tab, but successfully avoids the unexpected behavior of taking you to the split or design sub tabs.

Resharper live templates in sql files

I created live template for creation of a stored procedure and I set availability in *.sql files. But when I'm in SQL file I don't have possibility to use live template by typing live template shortcut. I know that I have to change some setting in Visual Studio or in Resharper but I didn't find anything. Do you have any idea about that? I'm using VS 2013 and Resharper 8. Thank you.
Custom live templates should be able to work in .sql files.
You don't mention how you set your live template up, but here is how I acheived this with Visual Studio 2013 and ReSharper 8.2.
The example should allow you to type sf + TAB and get a select * from $TABLE$ template inside of a .sql file.
Go to ReSharper's Template Explorer via RESHARPER -> Templates Explorer...
Make sure you are on the "Live Templates" tab (the 1st one) of the Templates Explorer.
Under "Scopes" on the left side make sure "Global" is selected.
Click the new icon to bring up the template editor.
Add your template shortcut keys sf.
Add your template SELECT * FROM $TABLE$.
On the right side of the template editor window, select the link next to "Availability".
In the "Select Scopes" window that comes up, uncheck "Everywhere" and expand "In files matching".
Use the File mask *.sql
OK out and save your template.
The sf template should now be available in .sql files.
If you've followed these steps and it's still not working, you may have keyboard shortcut conflicts with another plugin. Consider reinstalling or repairing ReSharper or resetting the keyboard shortcuts via the RESHARPER -> Options -> Keybaord & Menus screen.
ReSharper's Live Templates only work in file formats that ReSharper supports, since Live Templates rely on other ReSharper features that need to understand languages, such as auto-formatting, name shortening and auto-imports and availability in scope. Also, Live Templates are inserted by selecting the item from ReSharper's code completion windows - if there's no code completion, there can't be any Live Templates.
Since ReSharper doesn't know about .sql files, you don't get Live Templates.

Visual Studio 2013 - F10 / F11 stopped working on upgrade?

I just upgraded my Visual Studio from 2012 to 2013 and haven't done anything else yet short of installing all the updates recommended.
For whatever reason, when I go into my solution and press F10 or F11, it runs the entire program as if I had pressed F5... F8 works the way F10 used to, but I don't know why the keys I've always used now don't.
I set up visual studio as a VB environment.
How can I fix this?
Thanks!!!
Additional Info:
Just to add on as much information as I can, if I set a breakpoint in my code, then I can use F10 / F11 to continue stepping through my code once the breakpoint is hit and execution is stopped as would be expected.
EDIT 2013-12-31:
Based upon a comment made by Neolisk, it appears this is simply a change in default behavior in Visual Studio 2013... If anyone knows how to change this back to the way it was in 2012, that would be GREATLY appreciated, but at least I now know it's not an error / installation issue.
If 2013 works the same as previous versions, then do the following:
Navigate to Tools > Import and Export Settings
Choose "Import selected environment settings"
On the next screen, choose to save your current setings if you want to.
When you get to the point where you can import, just select "General Development Settings"
That should set everything back to what you're probably used to. Most people are set up using general settings and either don't realize it or just forget.
EDIT: If your issue is that the program executes when you press F10 or F11 when you are not debugging, then I think you might be out of luck. It's done that to me personally since VS 2008 (I'll frequently miss the F12 key when I'm in a hurry), and, after some searching, I think it actually happens to everyone:
Visual Studio - Prevent F11 from starting the debugger?
My guess is that this is a side-effect of not being able to set contextual hot keys based on whether you are or are not debugging. Since F10 and F11 are tied to debug-execution-related operations, my guess is that Visual Studio realizes that it needs to be debugging to process them, and thus starts the program.
ANOTHER EDIT: Of course, it's also possible that you had the scheme set to something else entirely in VS2012. Check out all of Visual Studio's pre-defined hotkeys by environment here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/da5kh0wa(v=vs.120).aspx
If none of those have the mappings that you're used to for F8, F10, or F11, then it's possible that you or an add-on may have had few custom hotkeys defined.
Worst-case scenario, you can simply redefine your shortcuts manually by key in the keyboard settings: Tools > Options > Environment > Keyboard
It sounds like you are in VB settings and not C#. You should try changing your settings to one or the other and see if those debug options change. On my machine
Tools - Import Export Settings - Reset All Settings - C# (If you want F10/F11) VB if you want F8/Shift-F8. It doesn't matter what your settings are you can still code in both languages, but if you are used to pressing F10 to debug VB.NET code you've been using C# settings this whole time. Nothing new with Visual Studio in this regard. I am using VS2013 Ultimate, have been using Visual Studio since VS2003.
The first image is VB.net, second is C# settings
You can try some of these reset settings:
And different combinations thereof, i.e. ResetToBasic first. If does not help, try ResetToC#, then back to Basic. Then try General, back to Basic. See if you can hack your way through like this.
EDIT: I tried my VS 2012, and compared to VS 2013. What you described is completely normal. VS 2012 used to step in Form_Load and similar on F10 and F11, VS 2013 no longer does it. So it seems like your VS 2013 is working as expected.
Microsoft probably has a reason to not allow to step into a property by default.
Properties are supposed to be mostly get and set and not contain a whole lot of implementation in it. But that may not be the case all the time.
If somebody is trying to step into a property that means this developer is suspecting something in that property that may be causing problems. So by default this behavior needs to be reversed and allow stepping into properties.
For now this is how you can enable stepping into properties.
Go to Tools > Options menu in Visual Studio.
Goto Debugging > General menu item in left pane.
In right view you will see and option Step over properties and operators (Managed only). Uncheck this option and then you are all set.
Enable step into properties in Visual Studio Debugger
If the above didn't work then follow this
In the Options.Keyboard page, please select "Debug.StepOver" from the command listbox, and then put focus to the "Press shortcut keys" textbox and press F10, click Assign button to re-assign shortcut, does it work?
You can also try to run Visual Studio under safe mode, which will prevents all third-party VSPackages from loading when Visual Studio starts; if the issue disappear under safe mode, you may consider checking your installed add-ons or VSPackages.
Second, to log all activity of Visual Studio to a log file for further troubleshooting, please use the /Log switch, and post the log file content here, so we can do more investigation on it.
If this feature works well before, and suddenly behave abnormally, it usually indicate that some files or configurations of Visual Studio installation is corrupted or missed, you can:
Restores Visual Studio default settings by using "Devenv.exe /ResetSettings" command. Please backup your settings before restore to default settings.
Repair/reinstall Visual Studio;
To repair Visual Studio In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, select Visual Studio then click Change/Remove.
I found I had to run VS as Administrator to debug properly. I also do a clean solution prior to debugging, especially on x64 machines. If you put a manual debug breakpoint in the code and the IDE indicates it can't stop at that point, then it's possible that the debugger is out of sync with the source code.
An idea to test it in a short way:
Create a Hello World console app.
1 Module Module1
2
3 Sub Main()
4 Console.WriteLine("Hello")
5 End Sub
6
7 End Module
Build first.
Put the cursor in line 4 (before each step), commands should start Debug Mode if you are in Design Mode.
F10 (StepOver): Should break on line 3
F11 (StepInto): Should break on line 3
CTRL+F10 (RunToCursor): Should break on line 4
If it is working properly: Maybe the assembly which containing the entry point of your program had modified and wasn't been rebuilded, or there is somthing other problem with the point where the control expected to break.
If it doesn't work as expected on the sample, I think you should ask on MSDN FORUM or make a bug report.
I don't know why they might have intent to change this behavior.
It is working for me in my 2013 Express Edition with C# recently.
I found what I think is an acceptable workaround for the non-functioning F10/F11 Keys. They are probably the most used keys in stepping through code, and it is a real pain to click on debug and select the key from the dropdown.
I got around this shortcoming by adding icons to the toolbar for these operations.
If you are not sure how to do this, On the Debug toolbar click on the down pointing arrow near the right side of the bar. Click on Add or remove buttons.
Select Customize...
Select Add Command
Select Debug
Scroll down to the desired key (Step over / Step into)
You once clicked, you will see the two icons added at the left side
of the toolbar, Unfortunately they are the same Icon, but with a
little use, you should be able to select the right key to click on.
I actually prefer this method to trying to remember which function key
to press.
On many branded laptops, there is an extra button "Fn", Press "Fn" and "Esc" together. Functional keys will be enabled in visual studio.
Kindly press Fn key and Esc (with Lock with Fn label).
Sometimes it gets locked and Media Player buttons get activated.
Sounds stupid to ask but what type of keyboard do you have? I know some keyboards have different modes that allow you to set different profiles for keys based upon the application. I use the feature with my Microsoft Natural keyboard. However I have had problems with the profile still being active when I switch into Visual Studio and then F10, etc doesn't work correctly.
I faced the problem that F10/F11 doesn't work but the breakpoint works.
Once I uninstall the Security Software and unload the relevant drives it works again.
So my advice is that. And I guess it's due to the drives, so if these don't work just try to unload those questionable drives may connected with this question.
Using Logitech MX 3000 Keyboard, I've upgraded to the last setpoint version and these keys work now perfectly. (Driver version 5.90.41)

View Designer Code in Visual Studio 2010

What is a standard way to open the Designer (automatically generated) code for a VB file?
As a workaround, I can get to it by searching the entire solution for some keyword that is usually only found in those files: Global, Partial, etc.
Open the Solution Explorer. Along the toolbar at the top there is a tool Show All Files (it is the 2nd from the left on my version of visual studio). Click on that tool. All of your Form files will now have an arrow beside them. click on that arrow to expand. Look for the code file named FormName.designer.vb. Double-click on it to open.
You have to click the "show all files"-Button. Then you can also see the Designer.vb-files.
Note: For C# and VS 2008, but the same applies to VB in VS 2010.
http://peterkellner.net/2007/12/31/visualstudioshowallfiles/
http://blog.brianhartsock.com/2009/09/14/visual-studio-tip-show-all-file/
Keyboard shortcut for Show All Files
Show All Files is a useful little button in the Visual Studio solution explorer to give us a full view of the directory structure our project files are sitting in. When it is off, we only see the files that are explicitly included in the project, but when it is on, we see everything. This makes it very easy to explicitly opt a file into the project without doing an add -> existing item -> find existing item in directory structure and add to project.
The default when creating a new Visual Basic application in Visual Studio is to not show all files, and unfortunatly there is no setting you can adjust to change that.
Open the code file, and in the top-right corner of the code window is a drop-down containing all methods. Open this and select "InitializeComponent".
A screenshot from a newer version. Visual Studio 2015 and 2017 will look like this.

How can I browse the classes and methods of an ActiveX DLL?

Basically, what I want to is be able to explore an ActiveX DLL.
I normally fire up VB 6, add the DLL to the "References" of the project, and use Object Explorer.
However, in this particular machine I can't install VB / VS.
I'm sure there's a tool out there that does this. Does anyone know of one?
Thanks
If the machine has Microsoft Office installed, you can go into the built-in Visual Basic for Applications IDE and load the object there:
Tools menu -> Macro -> Visual Basic Editor (or press Alt+F11)
Then when inside the VBA window, Tools menu -> References -> Browse to locate your DLL
and View menu -> Object Browser to view the object's content (or press F2)
I've used Microsoft's OLE/COM Object Viewer for this. It used to be installed with older versions of Visual Studio, and is still part of the Windows SDK.
It also seems to be available separately -- this is from an older version of the Windows SDK, but I don't imagine this tool has changed much recently.
To view the type information for a particular DLL or OCX, File, View TypeLib... is the option you're looking for. You can also dig through the Controls group in the main window to view details on a registered control. Right-click the entry for the control and click View Type Information to see details on the types and methods it exposes.
This will show rather more information than VB6 would. If you're looking at an ActiveX control, the coclass and dispinterface sections of the type library display are the things to look at.
(There's also an Expert Mode option in the View menu -- this will show you pretty much everything stored in the Registry to do with COM, OLE and ActiveX. This is generally rather a lot of information...)
Is it possible to download the component from that machine and examine it locally in Visual Studio? (That'd be my first suggestion.) (And BTW, the .NET versions of Visual Studio also feature a VB6-like Object Explorer which works nicely for this.)
Alternatively, and it's not free, but you might try ActiveXplorer. (I haven't tried this, but it looks promising.) (Discontinued)