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Making F1 do something useful in Visual Studio

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5.00/5 (49 votes)
12 Feb 2011CPOL 62.2K   32   21
F1 in Visual Studio takes forever, and rarely comes up with anything useful. Replace it with a Google MSDN search!
For Visual Studio 2008 and Visual Studio 2010:

1) Open VS, and on the Menu bar select "Tools...Macros...New Macro Project"
2) Call the project "GoogleSearchMSDN"
3) I'm so sorry about this, but VB is involved here. Not my fault, honest!
4) Rename the default Module1 to "DoGoogleSearchMSDN" - right click on the module name in the left hand pan, select "Rename"
5) Enter the following code as the module body:
Sub GoogleSearchMSDN()
    Dim url As String
    Dim searchFor As TextSelection = DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection()
    If searchFor.Text <> "" Then
        url = "www.google.com/search?q=MSDN+" + searchFor.Text
    Else
        url = "www.google.com/search?q=MSDN"
    End If
    DTE.ExecuteCommand("View.URL", url)
End Sub

6) Build and save your module.
7) Use the menu bar again: "Tools...Options...Environment...Keyboard"
8) In the "Show commands containing:" textbox, type "Google" - you should see your new macro.
9) Go to the "Press shortcut keys" box, and press F1
10) Press OK.

F1 now searches for "MSDN" plus whatever you highlighted.

[edit]Took out the "C#" reference in the "searches for" comment at the end - mine does, because I put that in the URL... :-O -- OriginalGriff [/edit]

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


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Born at an early age, he grew older. At the same time, his hair grew longer, and was tied up behind his head.
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Invented the portable cat-flap.
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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Simple, yet brilliant idea! Pin
Stephen Haselschwerdt16-Feb-11 10:14
Stephen Haselschwerdt16-Feb-11 10:14 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 One of those macros that you wish yo... Pin
ctrueman14-Feb-11 11:30
ctrueman14-Feb-11 11:30 
GeneralThis is great, I've been trying to get the help search to op... Pin
Keith.Badeau14-Feb-11 5:48
Keith.Badeau14-Feb-11 5:48 
GeneralRe: Regrettably, no. If there was, I'd have used it! I guess you... Pin
OriginalGriff14-Feb-11 8:38
mveOriginalGriff14-Feb-11 8:38 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Sweet, real sweet! Thank you Origin... Pin
Vic Rauch12-Feb-11 17:59
Vic Rauch12-Feb-11 17:59 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Cool! I shall implement this right a... Pin
Tarun.K.S12-Feb-11 6:16
Tarun.K.S12-Feb-11 6:16 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Thanks for writing this up so clearl... Pin
Glenn E. Lanier II11-Feb-11 3:23
Glenn E. Lanier II11-Feb-11 3:23 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Arise, Sir Griff Pin
jim lahey10-Feb-11 4:26
jim lahey10-Feb-11 4:26 
GeneralThanks Pin
Dmitry Sharygin16-Feb-11 5:18
Dmitry Sharygin16-Feb-11 5:18 
Generalcrippled version blues.. Pin
ErrolErrol14-Feb-11 7:35
ErrolErrol14-Feb-11 7:35 
GeneralTHANK YOU!!! Pin
SBJ14-Feb-11 6:46
SBJ14-Feb-11 6:46 

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