Visual C# 2005: IDE Tips and Tricks
Patrick J. Hynds
I've seen Patrick a few times and had simply forgot what an excellent presenter he is. Random notes of new or interesting points that I didn't already know are listed below.
Phases of development: understanding code, modifying code, writing code, debugging code
Understanding code
View Class diagram context sensitive.
List<Stroke> generics display, providing more information that existing Object array
3 slashes automatically display /// comments area
F12 one-key for GoTo Definition.
System methods GoTo Definition provide additional info about the parameters, use, and exceptions.
Can create instance of classes in Class Diagram, invoke methods. Object Test Bench.
Modifying Code
Code Analysis tab in project properties to change warnings/error rules
Refactor is a downloadable add-on. Loaded with Beta 2.0, so I’m not sure what Patrick meant. Not written by Microsoft though.
Writing Code
Code snippets. Pressing [Enter] after new CountWords class takes you inside of brackets. Enter takes you after the property brackets on prop.
Snippets are located in the VC#/snippets subdirectory.
CountWords cw = new CountWords()
Individual snippets, like dim.snippet, are XML files. Expansions…
Cw.Count(@"c:\test.txt") -- Count() did not exist (IDE Refactoring asks if we want to create the method.)
Snippet editor is available from MS, in "Additional Resources" in VS.NET start page.
Debugging Code
Can change the display of the debugger with [DebuggerDisplay("Name = {name}"... attributes.