How can I create a Visual Studio 2010 add-in with a user-interface? I want my add-in to have a window that can be pinned, just like the "Output", "Task list", "Error list" and all the other extensive windows in Visual Studio.
Where can I find documentation on add-ins with such user-interfaces to get me started? I can only find documentation on the actual coding.
Although there is some Microsoft documentation for writing add-ins, I recommend you start at Carlos Quintero's Resources about Visual Studio .NET extensibility. There are many how-to articles and links to a variety of documentation.
I figured out that what I needed was Visual Studio 2010 packages.
Fear not, these packages can be made in managed languages too (C# and Visual Basic). However, they require the Visual Studio 2010 SDK, which I didn't have installed.
It's very easy to make, and is done without hassle! Furthermore, it's cool, since the UI of the addins allow WPF!
Related
There is countless add-ins on http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/ but it seems they are all not for visual studio express (I use visual studio 2010 C# express in my laptop).
But extension manager does provide links to the site so I wonder how can I add-ins for VS express in the site?
Visual Studio Express does not support add-ins.
If you are student, you may be able to get full version (Professional) from either MSDN AA or from DreamSpark. Otherwise you are out of luck (unless you purchase it yourself).
EDIT: You may also try SharpDevelop. It is open-source alternative to Visual Studio. It does not support Visual Studio extensions, but it does support its own extensions. And it may have the features you are looking for.
EDIT Dec 2014: There is now a Visual Studio Community Edition which is free for noncommercial and some commerical uses and does support add-ins!
hello I have Visual Studio 2008 Express edition, I found some add-ins like metalscroll and rockscroll and even installed, but I can't find how to use those add-ins, I thought it might be automatically, I mean highlighting, but it doesn't work for my version, any ideas why? thanks in advance
Quote from metalscroll's home page:
The add-in works with Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 (Express versions
not supported, since they don't allow add-ins). VS 2010 will not be
supported, but Microsoft has released an add-in pack called
Productivity Power Tools which provides the same functionality.
You can forget about installing add-ins in Express editions of Visual Studio. They simply are not supported. Money spending time :-)
In Visual Studio 2010 you can drag tabs out to separate windows but you can not collect them together as additional tabbed elements. Is there a VS 2010 add-on to allow you to group your extra windows into tabs? It would be really nice to have a set of tabs on each of my monitors.
The best place to look is the Visual Studio Gallery for 2010 Extensions. If you are lucky someone else has already had the idea and created an extension (VSIX) for you.
Otherwise, why do you have a go at writing it yourself by grabbing a copy of the Visual Studio 2010 SDK and read the Getting Started Guide.
UPDATE: I just stumbled on this awesome Visual Studio Extension that may do want you are looking for: Visual Studio 2010 Pro Power Tools.
http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/d0d33361-18e2-46c0-8ff2-4adea1e34fef
Productivity Power Tools does it, and it's free. The feature is called Document Well.
When creating a new extension for visual studio, there are two project options: "Visual Studio Integration Package" and "Visual Studio Add-in". What is the difference between the two project types and when would you use one over the other?
Ok, you can find a full detailed comparison here (there are also links to the previous parts in the series).
But basically, add-ins were available as the VS extension type from the very first versions of the VS and built as the COM components. Later on, some limitations were discovered in that approach, so the new extensibility feature was created -- namely VS SDK package.
Probably, if you are building an extension for VS 2008+ you should target the VS SDK package as the newer technology. Another strong point of the VS package is better integration with the Visual Studio.
Whatever you do, add-ins are an
external thing for Visual Studio while
VSPackages are a completely integrated
part of the IDE.
You still might consider building an add-in, if
you need access to high-level extensibility API, as opposed to low-level fundamental API available from a VS package;
you develop in Visual Basic (templates for VS Package are available only in C# / Visual C++);
you want to automate a simple task / common scenario, then add-in will probably require less development effort.
Important point on Visual Studio Add-in vs Package, Add-ins are deprecated in VS 2013 and will not be available in VS "14"
Add-ins Deprecated in Visual Studio 2013
Visual Studio "14" CTP: add-ins are gone
"Official" guidance from How to: Create an Add-In is "Visual Studio add-ins are deprecated in Visual Studio 2013. You should upgrade your add-ins to VSPackage extensions...."
An integration package is something that can be chosen when you start a new project (like how you pick C# or VB).
See http://www.bitwisemag.com/copy/features/dev/visual_studio/vs2005_integration_1.html.
Add-ins work just like they would for MS Office applications. You can add your own custom buttons and menu items. Here is an example: http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/mgold/AddIns11292005015631AM/AddIns.aspx.
I want a complete list of AddOns/AddIns available for VS 2005 IDE
Dupe:
Useful Add-Ins or Plug-Ins for native Visual Studio developer
Recommended add-ons/plugins for Microsoft Visual Studio
What Visual Studio add-ins do you use?
Visual Studio add-on gallery?
And many others...there's no definitive list.