In this edition, I am going to wrap up a few loose ends with a selection of miscellaneous keyboard shortcuts and links to a summary keyboard shortcut poster.

Debugging:

I realize that none of you would write bugs, but in case you meet someone that does or perhaps on occasion you need to debug some code in order to explain a complex algorithm, here are some invaluable debugging keyboard shortcuts.

• F9 and CTRL+F9
  F9 creates or removes a breakpoint based on the cursor's current location. CTRL+F9 toggles whether a breakpoint is enabled or not.
• F5, CTRL+F5 and SHIFT+F5
  CTRL+F5 launches the application or begins running the tests.  If there are multiple projects in the solution, which project is launched depends on the solution's configured startup project.  Using F5 will launch the application in debug mode.  After encountering a breakpoint, F5 will continue execution until the next break point.  SHIFT+F5 will stop the application from debugging all together.
• F10, F11 and SHIFT+F11
  Executes the next statement one method at a time.  If not currently at a breakpoint, debugging will start at the first statement.  F10 will execute the method without following execution into the method.  In contrast, F11 will step into the method, allowing you to debug it line by line (assuming you have the source code).  SHIFT+F11 executes all remaining statements within the currently executing method, allowing you to jump out of a particular call rather than stepping over each line.
• CTRL+ALT+I
  Displays the Immediate Window.  Used when debugging a method, this window allows you to write code (frequently with intellisense) and evaluate/evaluate the code line by line as though it was inline within the method you are debugging.  I find it extremely helpful when learning about a new .NET API.  After instantiating a particular type, I can examine various members on the type and learn more about their behavior.

Adding files to Project

• SHIFT+ALT+C
  Displays the Add New Item dialog with the Class template selected.  Initially I wanted this to work without the dialog but I need to supply the class/file name and there are no additional keystrokes to placing it in the dialog.
• SHIFT+ALT+A
  Displays the dialog for adding an existing item to the project.

Summary

As I wrote this series, I was amazed at how frequently I still found myself forgetting some of the new keyboard shortcuts I learned while writing (CTRL+Break to stop a build).  Fortunately, there are posters available with many of the top shortcuts listed.  I recommend using one as a mouse pad for a few months so that you can get them down.

• Visual C# 2008 Keybinding Reference Poster
• Visual Basic 2008 Keybinding Reference Poster

This ends the series on Visual Studio Keyboard Shortcuts.  Next I plan to start a series on the Entity Framework.

Friday, January 23, 2009 7:23:22 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [7]  Computer Related | .Net | Headlines