Tips for Visual C++ Developers

• Download Visual Tips .reg files - 1 Kb

Introduction

These are a collection of tips that I found really useful for VC++ developers. This collection of tips uses the explorer shell to execute batch commands. To use these tips, you only need to merge the .reg file (using Microsoft Explorer), then the new command will be available for you to use.

Register/Unregister

The first tips helps to register/unregister ActiveX/COM component on your computer. Someone else posted a similar article a while ago, but now at least you can download it here. This tip can be used when you right click on a DLL file to register or unregister your component. The section for dependency walker (Depends.exe) is not really necessary since Depends will automatically add these to your registry.

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\RegSvr32]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\RegSvr32\Command]
@="Regsvr32.exe %1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\UnRegSvr32]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\UnRegSvr32\Command]
@="Regsvr32.exe /u %1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\View Dependencies]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\View Dependencies\command]
@="DEPENDS.EXE /dde"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile\shell\View Dependencies\ddeexec]
@="[open(\"%1\")]"

Delete Temporary files

This next tip allows you to delete most of the temporary files created with VC++. You can add other files in this list too. Class Wizard file (.clw) was not included in this list since it can useful for most of us. To use this tips, you will have to right click on a "folder" this time. It will delete all VC++ temporary files including sub directories.

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Delete Temp VC++ files]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Delete Temp VC++ files\command]
@="\"cmd.exe\" \"/c del /s *.obj,*.res;*.pch;*.pdb;*.tlb;*.idb;*.ilk;
    *.opt;*ncb;*.sbr;*.sup;*.bsc\""

Rebuild from Explorer

This tip allows you to build your project from Explorer. This is really cool if you don't have too many configurations. Just right click a DSP or DSW file to do it; presto! This tip was first inspired by a joke, but now at least we all can laugh! :-)

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dspfile\shell\Rebuild All]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dspfile\shell\Rebuild All\command]
@="\"Cmd.exe\" \"/C Start MSDev %1 /REBUILD /MAKE ALL\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dswfile\shell\Rebuild All]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dswfile\shell\Rebuild All\command]
@="\"Cmd.exe\" \"/C Start MSDev %1 /REBUILD /MAKE ALL\""

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed these tips. My favorite is "Delete Temp VC++ files", which one is yours?