Visual Studio Hacks [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Hack 26. Create Custom Window Layouts

Visual Studio's windows are a
dashboard view of your project. You can create different window
layouts and even switch between them on the fly.

In [Hack #16],
I discussed
how to modify your window environment in the Visual Studio IDE. You
can rearrange your windows in a number of different ways, including
the ability to dock, float, hide, and auto hide windows. Back in that
hack, I also mentioned that there are a number of default windows
layouts. For instance, there is a layout for
design mode and a layout for debug
mode. Modifications to those window layouts are done independently
from each other. Changes to the window layout while in debug mode
don't affect the window layout of design mode.

By default, Visual Studio includes a number of different window
layouts but does not include a way to create your own custom layouts
or switch between layouts. Thankfully, the Visual Studio team has
released a power toy called VSWindowManager which will allow you to do
this.

You can download the VSWindowManager power toy from http://workspaces.gotdotnet.com/vswindowmanager.
Be sure to close all instances of Visual Studio before
installing the power toy. After you have installed the power toy, it
will add two new items to the Window menu in Visual Studio, as shown
in Figures Figure 4-10 and Figure 4-11.

Figure 4-10. VSWindowManager Save Window Layout As... menu

Figure 4-11. VSWindowManager Apply Window Layout menu

These new menu items allow you to create your own custom window
layouts and switch between these layouts at any time. To try out this
new feature, first customize your window layout for when you design
forms, whether Windows Forms or ASP.NETfor example, you might
customize it so as to keep the toolbox or the Solution Explorer open,
and so on. Once you have configured the window layout the way you
like it for design, click on the Save Window Layout As... menu item
and select My Design Layout. This will save the current window layout
as your design layout.

Next, configure the window layout for when you are writing code. The
toolbox is probably hidden; perhaps the task list is now visible.
Once you have the windows laid out the way you want, click on Save
Window Layout As... again, and this time choose My Coding Layout.

Now that you have two different layouts saved, you can quickly switch
between the two layouts using the Apply Windows Layout menu item. You
simply need to click that menu item, then select the window layout
that you want to switch to. Visual Studio will then relatively
quickly switch to the other window layout.

The VSWindowManager power toy is a great tool that allows you to save
custom window layouts and then quickly switch between those window
layouts. Creating and using different window layouts is a great way
to get the most out of the IDE and save time when moving between
different coding modes. It is nice to always have Visual Studio
configured the way that you like it without the hassle of hiding and
showing windows each time you switch tasks.

4.4.1. Hacking the Hack

After creating these custom window
layouts, it is nice to be able to move them to another machine. This
can be done by copying a single file from your profile to your new
system. The file is called
devenv.xml and is located in the following directory:

\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\VisualStudio\<7.1>\

This file can be copied from this directory to the same directory on
your new system, and all of your window layouts should be available
on your new system.