Visual Studio provides many tips and tricks to help developers work more efficiently. Some key shortcuts and features include pinning favorite projects, creating templates for reuse, searching code using keyboard shortcuts, navigating code with bracket matching, selecting text in various ways, using IntelliSense for code completion, setting multiple startup projects, generating code from usage, viewing variable values with data tips, accessing tool window toolbars, splitting code windows, zooming text, and navigating properties windows.

1. Visual Studio Tips and Tricks

2. Credits ZainNaboulsi Microsoft Developer Evangelist blogs.msdn.com/visualstudiotips @zainnab isbn: 0735649928

3. Pin Favorite Startup Projects Start Page

4. Understanding Command Tools > Options > Environment > Keyboard Assign Shortcut Key to Command Test Command (Project.AddClass) Run from Command Window, Menu, Shortcut Keys Command Window: CTRL + ALT + A

5. Item / Project Templates File > Export Template Create your own templates (project / item) Create from existing item Add references in the template Search project: CTRL + E (New Project window)

6. Searching in Toolbox View Toolbox: CTRL + ALT + X Expand All: / Collapse All: * Next Result: TAB Cancel: ESC

7. Navigate Code Matching Braces: CTRL + ] Backward / Forward: CTRL + -; CTRL + SHIFT + - Select to last marker: CTRL + = Insert above line: CTRL + Enter Backspace one word: CTRL + Backspace Goto line: CTRL + G

8. Zero-Length Box Selection SHIFT + ALT + Arrow keys Type and text selection ALT + Left Mouse Type and text selection Select + Paste Replacing Text with Box Selection

9. Using New IntelliSense: Keywords Visual Studio 2010 CTRL + J

10. Multiple Startup Projects Solution Properties

11. Generate From Usage Automatically create stub code Use classes and members before defined Easily add namespace (using or full name)

12. Data Tips Debug mode allow view of data tips Data tips can be pinned Pinned data tips can be imported / exported Debug > Import / Export Data Tips

13. Accessing Tool Window’s Toolbar SHIFT + ALT Navigate with arrow keys

14. Split Code Windows Split horizontally and vertically Horizontal: ALT + W, P Vertical: ALT + W, V New window: ALT + W, N

15. Zoom In or Out of Text in Editor CTRL + Mouse Wheel

16. Navigate Properties Windows CTRL + PgUp CTRL + PgDn