VS2008 SP1 + WPF XAML editor breaks IntelliSense (Bug)

Question

Hallo.

The scenario is:
1) open just 3 primitive template based XAML files in XAML editor (without showing WPF designer even)
2) close two of opened xaml files
3) Check intelliSense - it wouldn't work untill you restart VS.

If you open 2 XAML files - it works fine, but 3 -XAML - is enought for VS2008SP1 to fall down.

My XAMLs are following:

XAML1:

<UserControl x:Class="AutoTrader.Quotes.CellLotsTemplateControl"

xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"

xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"

Height="21" HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"

>

<Grid>

<Label Height="21"

Name="label1"

VerticalAlignment="Stretch"

HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"

HorizontalContentAlignment="Right"

FontSize="9"

Content ="{Binding Path=LotsCount}"

/>

</Grid>

</UserControl>

XAML2:

<UserControl x:Class="AutoTrader.Quotes.CellOperationTemplateControl"

xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"

xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"

Height="21" HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"

>

<Grid>

<Button

Height="21"

Name="label1"

VerticalAlignment="Stretch" HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"

HorizontalContentAlignment="Right" FontSize="9" Content="Button"/>

</Grid>

</UserControl>

XAML3:

<UserControl x:Class="AutoTrader.Quotes.CellPriceTemplateControl"

xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"

xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"

Height="21" HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"

>

<Grid>

<Label Height="21"

Name="label1"

VerticalAlignment="Stretch"

HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"

HorizontalContentAlignment="Right"

FontSize="9"

Content ="{Binding Path=Price}"

/>

</Grid>

</UserControl>

But i noticed that this bug is active on any XAML-template based items.

I read many posts from microsoft how to solve this problem, f.e.:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vswpfdesigner/thread/9117a560-7f93-4ce1-b588-affebf13de78
http://weblogs.asp.net/fmarguerie/archive/2009/01/29/life-changer-xaml-tip-for-visual-studio.aspx
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/windowssdk/thread/dd6f14ed-e582-4b49-9358-64f2afaec151/
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/vswpfdesigner/thread/88bc758f-e190-440a-a244-709ca646bc77/
Post about repairing VS, about 'devenv /resetskippkgs'.
But none of them helped me.

I have VS 2008 SP1 x86 Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP1 on notebook. No PowerCommands, no VS2005 - just full VS2008 Pro SP1 and VS2008 Team Suite SP1. Also i have installed Microsoft Expression Blend 2 (i uninstalled it but Blend, but it did't help).

So is there any solution?

Answer 1

That's not enough information to figure out what could be wrong. Try narrowing down which XAML file causes IntelliSense to disappear. There is no limit on the number of XAML files that would cause this.

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Marco Goertz \ Sr. Dev Lead \ WPF Designer "Cider" \ Microsoft

Answer 2

Hi Philipp

Sorry for the trouble you're experiencing. I notice you have also raised this issue in Connect at https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=434313 - thank you for that.

We need some help to isolate this issue as mentioned by Marco above. As mentioned in the connect bug, I have tried several methods to reproduce the issue you are seeing, but without any success so far. Please can you check over the things I have tried (as listed in that Connect article) to make this bug reproduce, and let me know if I am missing some crucial detail that makes this problem reproduce for you?

As noted in the Connect bug, the issue you are describing (if we can make it reproduce) appears unrelated to any of the known intellisense failures you mentioned in your write-up and links, because they are all about situations where Intellisense fails completely, not intermittent failures such as you are seeing.

If any other forum users are seeing the exact problem Philipp describes (intellisense works for you until you open and close multiple files, then stops until you restart VS), please let me know either here or via the connect bug above, and take a look at the steps I am using to attempt to make it reproduce.

Thanks!

Mark Wilson-Thomas
Program Manager, WPF & Silverlight Designer, Visual Studio Team

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Mark Wilson-Thomas - Program Team - WPF & SL Designer for Visual Studio - posts are provided 'as-is'

Answer 3

Ok, fine.

I created the simpliest example project. And published it's source code on Live Skydrive:
http://cid-c86e3a964a5c669d.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/XAMLEditorBrakesIntelliSense.rar

Download it, please.

Here are the exact stages to reproduce the bug:

1) Open solution in VS2008 SP1 Pro
2) In solution explorer open context menu on Window1.xaml and select View Designer
3) In solution explorer open context menu on Window2.xaml and select View Designer
4) In solution explorer open context menu on Window3.xaml and select View Designer
5) In VS IDEE Menu select "Windows"\"Close All Documents"
6) In solution Explorer open context menu on Window1.xaml and select View CODE
7) Check intellisense in code editor - it's gone

I've checked in in 2 PCs and one Laptop

Answer 4

Please perform these steps below and confirm that you reproduced the bug

Answer 5

Thanks for providing these steps and the project.

I have followed them exactly as written and unfortunatley I still cannot reproduce the bug that you are seeing.  At step 7 I still see intellisense in the C# Code for Window 1's code behind.

Since you are seeing this issue on several PCs, we need to investigate further to get a reliable repro.

Can you tell me a little more about your setup?

1. Do you use the default WPF Designer to open your XAML files (this shows a split screen by default, with a design surface above and the XAML below the splitter), or have you used "Open With" in the solution explorer to set a different default designer for XAML files?

2. Have you set the WPF designer to always open in full XAML mode?

3. What OS are you running on the affected machines?

Thanks
Mark

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Mark Wilson-Thomas - Program Team - WPF & SL Designer for Visual Studio - posts are provided 'as-is'

Answer 6

1) I use just installed VS2008 and it's default xaml designer.

2) I tryied to switch off designer and perform this steps using just XAML editor in full windows - the same issue.

3) 2 x Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows Vista SP1.

Thanks.

Answer 7

Just to close the loop on this forum thread.

Per the related Connect bug https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=434313

Disabling DevExpress DXPerience Component Pack for VS2008 fixed the issue for you.

If other forum readers are experiencing this issue and have DevExpress DXPerience Component Pack For VS2008 installed, try disabling/uninstalling it and see if the issue is solved for you.

Mark

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Mark Wilson-Thomas - Program Team - WPF & SL Designer for Visual Studio - posts are provided 'as-is'