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.
I somehow managed to close the visual design tab of my project where you drag component from the toolbox to. I've tried every view I can think of. I'm using Visual Studio 2013 if anyone can tell me how to re-open the design view(not the code) that'd be great as I don't know my way around every aspect of visual studio.
When you right-click the "FormName.vb" file in Solution Explorer, you can click "View Designer." Alternatively, you can click "Open With..." and choose Visual Basic Form Editor from the list.
Try using XXX.Designer.cs from your Solution Explorer
hope it'll help
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)
Like I said in the title of this question, is it possible to attach a keyboard shortcut to collapse all items in the solution explorer with Visual Studio 2012?
In previous version; 2010, I was able to create a macro to enable this feature but in Visual Studio 2012, there is no more support for macros.
I'm able to right click onto item in the solution explorer and choose 'Collapse All' but I prefer to just typed 'Ctrl+Shift+C' to do the same job.
FWIW, this is the best I've been able to come up with so far.
Alternative 1
Press Ctrl+ยจ to put focus in the search box above the Solution Explorer.
Press Shift+Tab to move focus to the toolbar.
Use the left arrow to move focus to the left, until you hit the Collapse All button (four times. YMMV).
Alternative 2
Press Ctrl+Alt+l (or whatever your personal shortcut is) to focus the Solution Explorer.
Press Shift+Alt to focus the Solution Explorer toolbar. This puts the focus on the Home button on the toolbar.
Use the right arrow to move focus to the right, until you hit the Collapse All button (three times).
Press Enter.
Alternative 3
Press Ctrl+Alt+l (or whatever your personal shortcut is) to focus the Solution Explorer.
Press and hold the left arrow until you've reached the top node (the Solution node).
Press the up arrow to put focus in the search box above the Solution Explorer.
Press Shift+Tab to move focus to the toolbar.
Use the left arrow to move focus to the left, until you hit the Collapse All button (two times. YMMV).
As you can see in the screenshot below, there is an option called Collapse All and a shortcut key next to it.
Now this shortcut key will not work for you !
Unless ofcourse, you set it up using Tools > Options > Keyboard. The command name is CollapseInSolutionExplorerAction. Search using this command name and assign a shortcut key of your choice.
That's it and you are ready to use your shortcut key !
Source
Visual Studio 2012 / ReSharper 8.0.1:
The command is 'ProjectAndSolutionContextMenus.Project.ReSharper_CollapseInSolutionExplorer'.
I suggest you to try CodeMaid extension for Visual Studio. It provides a command "Collapse All Projects Recursively" that has customizable shortcut (by default, it is Ctrl+M,-). It has some other nice abilities, like switching between .cpp and its .h files, joining lines, etc.
I have searched on the net a way to do this when I have first install VS2012 ..
I have just found the solution, so I share it :)
you can do this by adding your visual studio version to an existing Extension ...
Download the extension for VS 10
Change the extension from vsix to zip
extract it and open the file extension.vsixmanifest
Find this xml section : SupportedProducts
Add this :
<VisualStudio Version="11.0">
<Edition>Ultimate</Edition>
<Edition>Premium</Edition>
<Edition>Pro</Edition>
</VisualStudio>
you can also try version 12 for visual studio 2013 ...
zip it, and change the extension from zip to vsix.
Now you can Install it.
after install it, Goto Tools -> Customise and click on the keyboard button.
Search "CrossProjectMultiProject.CollapseProjects" and assing the shortcut you like.
Have a nice codding.
Please +1 if this help you
ps. sorry for my bad English, im French ;-)
Most of the time when I code, either using Visual Studio or gVim, I like to have many open windows with code files so that I can go back and forth from one to another, either to edit or just read while editing another file.
Thus I found VS 2010's feature of "floating" code windows very helpful. However, the fact that when a code window is floating, it's "always on top" is a bit annoying, because it might hide other windows, such as the "Find Results" for example.
Is this something that is customizable? Is there a configuration value somewhere that either enables or disables the "always on top feature" of floating code windows in Visual Studio 2010?
Thanks
Well, it is not a real top-most window, it is merely on top of the Visual Studio main window. An 'owned' window. From where it competes with other windows that VS displays for the Z-order, like the Find Results window. You'd need to arrange these windows so they don't easily overlap and obscure each other. That's supported, you can dock them. Bit of a chicken-and-egg problem, isn't it?
If you have concrete ideas how to improve this then you can post them to connect.microsoft.com