-
Set as Startup for Windows Forms
In .NET Windows Forms, there will be an option Set as Startup Form to be consistent
with Web forms.
Figure: Please add 'Set as Start Form' option
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Not done
This has not been fixed in Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2.
|
-
Startup Object Property
The combo box control in this property grid needs to be more visible. Sometimes
it is visible, sometimes not.
Figure: Now you see the combo...
Figure: Now you don't!
The property is also inconsistent between C# and VB.NET. C# only lists classes which
have a Main method. VB.NET lists all forms as well as classes with a main method.
This is because VB.NET does not create a Main method if the Startup object is set
to a Form. Instead:
- VB.NET will always create a Main method for consistency with C#.
- All Forms will be listed in both languages. If a Main method does not exist and
a Form without one is selected, the Main method will be created.
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Not done
This has not been fixed in Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2.
|
-
Automatic Code Auditing
Certain coding practices will be able to be banned. e.g. empty catch blocks, variables
which do not follow naming conventions, etc. We have fixed this ourselves with a
combination of Code Auditor and Microsoft's FxCop
tool, which allows you to create custom rules.
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Fixed
FxCop is now integrated into Visual Studio .NET, and with Team Foundation Server,
you can run rules over source code before allowing pending checkins.
|
-
Gracefully change and delete datasets from the designer
Have you ever deleted a dataset from the designer only to lose all your control
bindings? We think a less frustrating and more useful solution is to:
- If you delete a dataset, a window pops up list all the controls that are bound to
this dataset. In this window you can choose to re-map the controls to an existing
or new dataset.
- There will be an option to change the source of a dataset, e.g. if you have a data
set in the designer bound to "DataSets.Categories" and you want to change it to
bind it to "DataSets.SubCategories" without losing your form bindings.
-
-
Figure: If I delete any dataset here I lose all my form designer bindings. A confirmation
dialog will pop up letting me know all controls that are bound to this dataset and
allow me to change the dataset the controls are bound to or cancel the operation
-
Back and Forward Buttons will Look Like Internet Explorer
The Backwards and Forwards buttons to move between different code locations and
files in Visual Studio .NET are are hard to discover, because the icons do not resemble
those in Internet Explorer.
Figure: Did you know what these buttons were for?
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Fixed
The icons in Visual Studio .NET 2005 are an improvement on Visual Studio .NET 2003,
but still not quite as obvious as we would like.
Figure: The new icons are better, but still not like Internet Explorer.
|
-
Folder Delete Option
As shown in the screenshot, Visual Studio allows you to quickly and easily remove
a project from a solution, via the popup menu in Solution Explorer. It would be
good if there was also a command for removing the project file itself. This would
save the user having to close VS, remove the project manually then re-open VS, which
is what normally has to be done. And while we're on this topic, a command like 'Open
in Explorer' could also make manipulating files in a project more convenient.
Figure: Right-clicking on a project in Solution Explorer.
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Not done
This has not been fixed in Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2, but Microsoft have acknowledged
it for a future release. Microsoft pointed out that it would be relatively easy
to write an add-in to achieve this functionality. However, we would have liked a
command where you could at least open the folder in Windows Explorer.
|
-
.NET References List
The list box on the .NET tab of the Add Reference dialog in Visual Studio (Project
> Add Reference...) lists all available .NET components. (See screenshot below.)
As .NET components are added to the system over time, this list box may end up containing
thousands of items
This is a bad idea for two reasons:
- It is difficult for users to find what they're looking for.
- The list takes a long time to load; the user may be forced to wait for as long as
30 seconds before being able to interact with the dialog box.
A better idea may be to add a filter text box. Then the list can be filtered according
to the characters entered into the text box, and updated each time the filter text
changes.
Figure: Add Reference dialog box in Visual Studio.
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Not done
Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 has a new Add Reference dialog box, but it is just as
slow, and if anything, makes it harder to reference multiple items simultaneously.
However, the Browse and Recent tabs are an improvement. Microsoft have acknowledged
this for a future release.
Figure: New References Dialog in Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2
|
-
VSS - Make Integration with Visual Source Safe
More Efficient
- A source safe project will be opened through "File/Open/Project from Source
Safe"
- A VS project will be able to be shared by sending the URL or fileshare which can
be pasted into Start/Run (e.g. vss://Path/To/Database/ProjectName) - which would
then be automatically checked out of Source Safe
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 and Visual SourceSafe 2005 Beta 2 - Partially done
Visual Studio .NET 2005 has an option under the Open submenu to open a Team Foundation
Server project, but not a SourceSafe project. Microsoft have decided to keep the
SourceSafe option under the Source Control menu so that all source control options
remain grouped together.
Figure: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Open Menu for Team Foundation Server
Our suggestion of adding a protocol handler has been acknowledged by the SourceSafe
team.
|
-
VSS - Renames will be intelligent
- Why doesn't renames work the same as Windows Explorer? The history shouldn't be
lost when you rename an object and it shouldn't make a copy. A rename is a rename.
- When you create a file, it also creates a class of the same name. Therefore if I
rename the file, I want to class to be automatically renamed
- When a button which has only one event in the handle statement is renamed, the function
name will be automatically renamed
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 and Visual SourceSafe 2005 Beta 2 - Partially done
Visual SourceSafe 2005 Beta 2 will now support rename/delete/move propagation from
the Solution Explorer to its database. This functionality is implemented in Visual
Studios Source Code Control Integration layer, which means that any third-party
SCM will be able to implement this as well.
Visual Studio 2005 supports renaming the underlying class when the file name changes.
Resharper can rename a file if
you rename a class, allowing you to have this functionality today in Visual Studio
.NET 2003.
Event handler renaming is not present in Visual Studio .NET 2005, but the suggestion
has been acknowledged.
|
-
Visual Basic .NET to C# and Vice-Versa Language Converters
There needs to be an automatic and reliable way to transfer code between C# and
Visual Basic .NET languages. This would be particularly useful in an environment
where both languages are used, and some developers are more familiar in one language,
but need to know the correct way to exactly reproduce a set piece of code in the
other language. There are several web-based tools available, but they can only convert
about 80% of code. The functionality needs to be implemented in the compiler and
MSIL so that all language elements are converted with 100% accuracy.
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Not done
Visual Studio .NET 2005 does not have this feature. Microsoft believe that the
total percentage of Visual Studio users who would use this would probably be fairly
low, not enough to justify adding the feature to Visual Studio.
|
-
Use Manifest Check Box
The Properties of a Project will have a "Use Manifest" check box rather
than having to copy files into directories.
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Done
Visual Studio .NET 2003 added a feature where you could call Application.EnableVisualStyles()
to use themes in your application, however it did not work correctly.Visual Studio
2005 fixes this bug, and there is now a checkbox where you can enable or disable
themes.
Figure: Enable XP visual styles check box in the project properties in Visual Studio
2005 Beta 2
|
-
Provide Feedback with Sound
Both Word and Outlook have this fantastic option for those developers who like to
receive information aurally (yes this is correct spelling and means "through
listening") as well as visually.
Figure: Provide Feedback with Sound option in Office
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Not done
Visual Studio .NET 2005 does not provide aural feedback, but Microsoft have
acknowledged our suggestion for a future version.
|
-
Notify of Invalid XML in the Task Pane
Making the Task Pane notify the user that their XML schema (e.g. in App.config)
is invalid would save many users a lot of time. Because while you have this error
you can't copy and paste and it therefore takes you forever to find the problem.
Figure: The Task Pane will notify users if their XML is invalid
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Fixed
Visual Studio .NET 2005 provides full Intellisense for XML, including showing
validation errors in the task list.
Figure: Visual Studio 2005 highlights XML errors and shows them in the error list
|
-
"Load Last Loaded Solution" Bypass
I like using the "Load last loaded solution" option. However sometimes
I know I don't want that solution to open when I open VS.NET. There will be a feature
"Hold down shift to bypass" as there is in access.
Figure: Let me bypass the "Load Last Loaded Solution" - just like I could with Access
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Not done
Microsoft have not added this feature this but our suggestion has been acknowledged
for a future release.
|
-
Tab Control ordering problem
This is a known issue about Tab control designer. When you load a tab control which
contains too many tabs, the designer will move the tabs around sometimes, not following
the initial order. A work around about this is to place some code in your
form constructor, right after InitializeComponent(), to clear all the tab pages
from your tab control and add them again in the order you want. See problem, http://www.syncfusion.com/FAQ/WinForms/FAQ_c93c.asp#q959
for more information regarding this problem.
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2 - Fixed
Microsoft have fixed this bug in Visual Studio .NET 2005 Beta 2.
|
-
Need a Linker to make .exe's include required .NET components
I agree with Joel Spolsky
when he says we need a Linker:
"For some reason, Microsoft's brilliant and cutting-edge .NET development environment
left out one crucial tool... a tool that has been common in software development
environments since, oh, about 1950, and taken so much for granted that it's incredibly
strange that nobody noticed that .NET doesn't really have one."
Source: Joel Spolsky, 2004, "Joel On Software - Please Sir May I Have a Linker?",
Accessed 3 December 2004. URL: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/PleaseLinker.htmll
-
Shortcut for generating properties
Public properties have a number of advantages to public fields (see
Do you use Public/Protected Properties instead of Public/Protected Fields?)
but the syntax for generating them is tedious, particularly if there is no logic
in the accessors:
public int Count
{
get
{
return _count;
}
set
{
_count = value;
}
}
Instead we will be able to write:
public int Count : _count;
Alternatively, it would be nice if when you right-clicked a private field, there
were two extra options, "Generate Public Property" and "Generate
Protected Property", which would generate the block of code above.
-
Designing forms after modifying code
There is a bug in VS.NET!
This bug can put invalid entries in your project files, for example vbproj and csproj,
when you go back and modify the code in your forms (particularly if you touch the
initializer). The solution is to simply remove and re-add the forms to your project.
This will correct the entries in your VS.NET project file.
Figure: Code sample
For more information on this bug, please go to our
KB article.
-
Need ticks and crosses on Reference Paths Page
When a project has an invalid Reference Path, the project tries to search for references
in that folder even though it does not exist. This adds substantial load time to
the project (one solution loaded in 1 min 53 sec with an invalid reference path).
When that invalid path was removed the time was now reduced to 12 seconds.
To prevent this problem:
- ticks and crosses will appear on the page below to identify folders that do not
exist,
- these problems will also appear in the Task List to make it more visible.
Figure: Reference Paths options screen with "D:\Dev" being the invalid path.
Update: Visual Studio .NET 2005 - Not done
This has not been fixed in Visual Studio 2005. However some improvements have been
made to point 1. For a path that is not valid the "Update" button becomes Enabled.
We still need the ticks and crosses as suggested above.
|
-
Need a DataBinding Smart Tasks shortcut
Figure: Smart Tasks menu
Can you add to the Smart Task "DataBindings..." that would bring up this form
Figure: Formatting And Advanced Binding dialog
-
Improve Data Source Configuration
Wizard
-
Figure: Choose a Data Source Type
I find most developers either have a plan to try using Objects or Datasets
I find this bit unintuitive, when a developer uses data binding they either think
"business objects" or "datasets". Can we reword the description for "Objects" to:
"Lets you choose an object or a dataset
that can later be used to generate data-bound control."
-
Maybe add a tip that shows this image...
Figure: If you are using Datasets it is good to organize all your datasets into one
project
-
Add a tip: It is Best Practise is to connect to a project called "Business" (for
business objects) or "Data" (for data sets)
Figure: Add a tip here...
-
File Open dialog will have "Current
Solution"
I usually want to add images that already exist in the solution.
It would be handy to add a 4th icon to the File Open dialog called "Current Solution"
Figure: It would be more convenient if we have a "Current Solution"
-
will be able to drag and drop a typed dataset onto the form designer
To use a Dataset in a Windows or Web form, you have to create an instance of the
typed DataSet from your DataSets project. Currently you have to drag an instance
of the dataset from the toolbar then define its type, but wouldn't it be nice to
simply drag the .xsd onto the form designer and have Visual Studio figure out the
rest?
-
- Figure:
I will be able to drag this typed DataSet onto my form designer to create an instance
of it
-
Combo box with lookup button
One of the problems that .NET developers have when they design in a bound environment
is that they put combo boxes on forms which show a big list. This is not only hard
to navigate once you start showing hundreds of records, it can also causes the form
to take longer to load and put unnecessary strain on the database.
A better option is to include next to the combo box an ellipsis button "..." which
pops up a lookup form.
-
- Figure: Developers
typically return all records for a data bound combobox field, which can increase
form load time and put unnecessary strain on the database
Modification of version numbers
Version Numbers will be consistent there are few exceptions e.g. for backward compilation,
you may have to keep Assembly Version unchanged and only increase File Verison for
each build. But Visual Studio .NET makes it too easy to let them get out of sync.
Microsoft, please make these modifications to the labels and add this checkbox
Assembly Version (when increased it breaks compatibility for depended .dlls) [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ]
[x] Copy Assembly Version (disables below)
File Version (shown in Windows Explorer) [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Once you have choosen to go ClickOnce then there is no point to have a Separate
Assembly and File Version and Published version
So Microsoft, my suggestion is to add a checkbox to below form
[x] Copy Assembly Version
(to be disable the 4 version text boxes)
I agree with this suggestion, but have a different take. Once developers move to
ClickOnce deployment, the assembly and file versions become irrelevant. The Publish
Version is your point of Config Management because it drives the deployment and
update mechanisms. There will be an easy way to keep them in sync, but I would say
it will flow from Publish Version to Assembly and File Version, not the other way
around. Although bi-directional flow would be best let people manage whichever one
they prefer.
Brian Noyes (Author of Smart Client Deployment with ClickOnce, Addison Wesley)
-
Load MRU (Most Recently Used) lists as a background process
during Save or Delete
During the process of saving a file to a machine, Visual Studio tries to load recently
used files.
This can cause an unnecessary delay when the machine is not connected to the network
that a previous project was saved on; after a certain period it times out and goes
on to save the file.
The temporary fix to this is deleting all items in the registry under the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\ProjectMRUList
and restart VS2005.
-
-
Figure: Delete all items in the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\ProjectMRUList
This is a common issue in a lot of applications; freezes are usually caused by trying
to access a network resource that is not available. MRU processes will be executed
as background threads so that they dont lock up the main UI and leave the developer
waiting.
-
Exclude <pre> tag when performing code auto-format
Code auto-format (Ctrl-K, Ctrl-F) is very handy for developers to product a nicely
structured codes. Unfortunately this function also automatically formats the content
of a <pre> tag where whitespace is significant and formatting will be preserved.
-
<pre>
Try
'' sample code
Catch
'' sample code
End try
</pre>
-
Figure: Nicely formatted html code
-
<pre>
Try '' sample code Catch '' sample code End try </pre>
-
Figure: All formatting in <pre> code is destroyed
-
Need a file association for Web.Config
When you first find an ASP.NET solution you are in Windows Explorer. The first step
is usually to have a look in web.config to look at some of the settings the project
uses. e.g. Connection string.
It would be good if we could double click that and we see a GUI instead of seeing
XML.
Ideally the GUI would show bold settings for the stuff that is not default.
-
-
Figure: It would be nice to see a GUI for a web.config instead of XML
PS: This would be great for ".SLN" files too, so we can see stuff like the projects
that are in it (and even show red crosses for broken/moved projects).
-
DataDude does not synchronise the Schema for Stored Procedures
The prefix of the stored procedure in the generated script is not the same as the
source. This is not fixed in the Service Release 1.
-
-
Figure: Datadude recognizes the schema are different, but generates the incorrect
update script.
-
Compare two items of the same type
Sometimes, I want to compare two items of the same type so that I can tell which
one is good. Please allow me to select two items of the same type in the designer
and to get differences of their properties.
E.g. these ListViews, they've got so many properties I can't tell them apart!
-
-
Figure: Compare two items of the same type.
-
DataDude needs a "select all"
A top checkbox to "select all" in the form.
The header of checkbox column will contain a checkbox by default. This checkbox
can let users select or unselect all the checkboxes underneath it.
-
-
Figure: SqlServer Management Studio - "select all" checkbox
-
-
Figure: These is no "select all" checkbox in the table list of DataDude.
-
DataDude will explain the reason of droping constraints
In the data compare, when you make a couple of changes to the customer table it
drops every constraint.
Please add in the comments it creates at the top the reason for this - it seems unnecessary
and melodramatic!
/*
This script was created by Visual Studio on 31/10/2006 at 5:02 PM.
Run this script on schnauzer.AdventureWorks_v1.dbo to make it the same as schnauzer.AdventureWorks_v2.dbo.
This script performs its actions in the following order:
1. Disable foreign-key constraints.
2. Perform DELETE commands.
3. Perform UPDATE commands.
4. Perform INSERT commands.
5. Re-enable foreign-key constraints.
Please back up your target database before running this script.
*/
SET NUMERIC_ROUNDABORT OFF
GO
SET XACT_ABORT, ANSI_PADDING, ANSI_WARNINGS, CONCAT_NULL_YIELDS_NULL,
ARITHABORT,
QUOTED_IDENTIFIER, ANSI_NULLS
ON
GO
-- Pointer used for text / image updates. This might not
be needed, but is declared here just in case
DECLARE @pv binary(16)
BEGIN TRANSACTION
ALTER TABLE [Sales].[Customer]
DROP CONSTRAINT [FK_Customer_SalesTerritory_TerritoryID]
ALTER TABLE [Sales].[SalesPersonQuotaHistory]
DROP CONSTRAINT [FK_SalesPersonQuotaHistory_SalesPerson_SalesPersonID]
Figure: The update script generated by Data Dude
-
Inform the developer when adding referrence
When the wizard adds new reference to the project,developers will be informed. E.g.
If a programmer wants to add a LINQ to SQL class via wizard, the reference to System.Data.Linq.dll
will be added to the project.Actually, the programmer may don't know that.
-
-
Figure: A reference is added automatically by wizard.
-
Need "Auto increment the build number on each Compile" check box
Add a check box in below form: [x] Auto increment the build number on each Compile:
-
-
Figure: In this form need a "Auto increment the build number on each Compile" check
box.
you can get more from our rules:
Is your
version number meaningful?
Do you display
the version number publicly?
Do you always
update the version number whenever a new build is made?
-
Add Shortcut Key to format HTML
If we open a page using Word, we can use Control + Space to remove the style of
HTML and make the words with the same font and size. But in Visual Studio 2008,
there is no functionality like this. With this shortcut, designer can edit and re-format
pages easier.
-
-
Figure: Need a shortcut to format HTML.
-
Full 64 bit support
eg. Edit-and-continue in VS is not supported on the 64-bit platforms
Note: There is a work around. If you need Edit and Continue in Visual Studio on
a 64 bit PC, you can temporarily run the debugging process with the “x86”
option, and then switch back to “Any CPU” when you terminate with debugging.
It work perfectly.
-
-
Figure: How to make Edit and Continue to work on 64 bit
-
Lets give nicer help before dropping into Designer Files
I have a dream...
Make it a goal that we don't let developers drop into these files?
- Better 1: Tell the user to look in the app.config file.
- Even Better 2: Tell me if the name of the Config element you are looking for.
- Even Better 3: Drop into the config file.
- Even Better 4: Check for a Connection String and then popup a nice connection form.
- Even Better 5: Give a list of common mistakes with ticks and crosses (each team
would be responsible)
|
Valid Config Element
|
|
Valid Connection String
|
|
Ping to Server OK
|
|
Database does not exist
|
-
-
Figure: This is not helpful
-
-
Figure: This is a good start
I have a dream.... Each team that works uses VS.NET eg. LINQ team, Reporting
Services team... would have to have the top 20 issues from beta testing.... entered
here before they ship
-
Provides "Training Videos" menu item in the help menu
Training Videos provide a straitforward way to help the user look into your product and help them have a good understanding. It's better to have a "Training Videos..." item in the help menu.
-
-
Figure: It's better to provide such a "Training Videos..." menu item
See our rules Menu - Do you have a Training Videos item?
-
Add a "Read UI/Show Me" menu item in right-click context menu
I would love to see:
- A "Read UI/Show Me" option on all controls if they are using Visual Component
- Generally help to have people "read the UI" like they "read code"
- This would be useful for beginners
- This would be useful for managers reviewing code
- This would be useful for VB6 guys
Eg. One way would to implement this would be:
- right-click ProductID Textbox and select "Read UI/Show Me"
- it would then filter out all irrelevant Component Tray icons (slowly fade out)
- it would then filter out all irrelevant Properties (slowly fade out)
- now it could then use some of Code Rush like big arrows, that would point first to the DataSet in the left hand toolbox, then it would simulate it being dragged onto the form
- then they would see it moved automatically to the component tray
- then they would see the arrow pointing to the properties in the right hand property window
-
-
Figure: I would like to see a "Read UI/Show Me" menu
-
Rather than add a file to my project and get 600 compile errors, help me automatically fix it
When there's a compiler error that is because of a missing assembly reference, VS.NET should be smart enough to offer me suggestions to add the Assembly.
If there are multiple matching assemblies, show a list that lets me choose which one is the one I want.
So instead of 600+ errors that says something to the effect of:
The type or namespace name 'Linq' does not exist in the namespace 'Microsoft.SharePoint' (are you missing an assembly
reference?) C:\Temp\AdamCogan01\VisualWebPartProject1\VisualWebPartProject1\TeamSite.cs 997 25 VisualWebPartProject1
Analyze the code and find the yellow
namespace VisualWebPartProject1 {
using System;
public partial class TeamSiteDataContext : Microsoft.SharePoint.Linq.DataContext {
-
-
Figure: The yellow should be enough to ask the user if they want to that this .dll
-
Is there a Windows standard UI convention against this?
This is a little one, but the Project Menu in Visual Studio is reasonably prominent.
I believe one dialog form, should get one menu item (on the same menu).
E.g. The TFS Team have done this correctly.
-
-
Figure: The TFS team gives one menu item for a form with 2 tabs
-
-
Figure: Good - This is the resulting form (One improvement I think would be to rename the tabs, to be 'Areas' and 'Iterations')
Versus
The VS.NET team who did it incorrectly
-
-
Figure: Bad - 2 menu items for one form (with 2 tabs)
-
-
Figure: This is the same form invoked
-
VS 2010 - Help me know what to do when trying to solve 'Output Type of Class Library cannot be started directly'
My C++ guys are stuck.
I thought C++ guys were clever
See them work out how to use VS 2010 for the first time :)
I was very surprised they all had no idea how to click the "Solution Explorer" tab.
Suggestions below...
-
-
Figure: Why is it telling them to 'Add an executable project'? (There is already one)
Now I think of it...this stupid dialog does my head in...
Suggestion 1: Why is the 'Solution Explorer' tab not mentioned in this horrible message box?
Suggestion 2: Even better, why not have the 'Solution Explorer' tab selected?
Suggestion 3: Change this text from
---------------------------
Microsoft Visual Studio
---------------------------
A project with an Output Type of Class Library cannot be started directly.
In order to debug this project, add an executable project to this solution which references the library project. Set the executable project as the startup project.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
To
---------------------------
Microsoft Visual Studio
---------------------------
Your currently selected project is 'xxx'. A project with an Output Type of Class Library cannot be started directly.
Select the 'Solution Explorer' tab and select any of these valid projects:
- xxx
- yyy
In order to debug this project, add an executable project to this solution which references the library project. Set the executable project as the startup project.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
Suggestion 4: make the message boxes better by including an image like this
-
-
Figure: Show a newbie an image like this
Suggestion 5: Change the whole form from a dumb message box (with only text), to an intelligent form with the above message plus combo with valid projects they can select and press a "Continue" button
-
-
-
Figure: Can we use this space please + make the node I clicked on visible (in this case it says 'WebFrontEnd')
-
Nice URLs for the Gallery
Have I mentioned getting nice URLs would be great for the Gallery?
Eg.
http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/3d37ce86-05f1-4165-957c-26aaa5ea1010/
to
http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/Test-Attachment-Cleaner/
-
Improve the VS.NET 2010 setup experience #1
It is already great, so these are little ones:
- Can we have a 2nd status bar so we know the total time remaining?
- Can you have the reboot any earlier (before the VC 9.0 and VC 10.0 Runtimes) and tell us specifically
"There will be one reboot required in approximately 3 minutes"
- Let me resize the window so it can go from the top to the bottom of the screen
-
-
Figure: 3 little things would make this form even greater
-
Improve the VS.NET 2010 setup experience #2
-
-
Figure: Bad - It is currently running so "Close" should be "Cancel"
-
-
Figure: Good - Now it shows "Close" now it is finished? But bad as I am not sure whether to "Next" or "Complete" or "Close" now
-
Additional Menus should indicate where they come from
If I am I am looking at an additional menu on someone elses PC, there should be a way to see where they came from.
2 ideas... add an additional "About" menu item... or add a tooltip with the assembly name
-
-
Figure: The "Process Editor" menu should indicate that is comes from VS2010 PowerTools
-
Help | About - Help me see what was the last thing I installed
- Can I have a 2nd column in this grid "Date Installed"
- And sort it descending, so I can see the most recent gear I have put on this VM
- And be super cool and add a link "Tweet this extension"
- Figure: Put this in descending order of installation
- Figure: Give me something to read while waiting… While looking at this screen I would like to see the list (in descending order) of the last things installed (from Extensions to Service Packs)
-
Setup.exe - Help me know not to install SQL Server 2008 Express Service Pack 1
- Figure: Just a little bit of text
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Let me click around (Little one) - without making me reach for the keyboard
I would love to be able to click around, when I am exploring... when I am demoing.... and not have to reach for the keyboard to hit F7 (I have never really used right click)
I believe this is the *most* common operation that is done from this window.
PS: I wish I could see stats on what the top operations from this form are?
- Figure: In the red square, add hyperlink 'View Code' (or maybe a smart tag icon)
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Dev11 Feature Request - 'View Class Diagram'
- Figure: "View Class Diagram" adds a file! Avoid surprises and rename it to 'Add'
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VS Extension Manager - help me intelligently on search
- Figure: Add a link 'Try the Online Gallery'
- Figure: A good example from Outlook
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Give me a sensible Default Tab Order
The tab order when you create a new form defaults to the order you add controls. The default should be more sensible - from the top of the form to the bottom.
- Figure: Bad Example - The default tab order is based on the order controls were added and does not make sense
- Figure: Good Example - The default tab order is from top to bottom