File Navigation

Question

Is there anyway to tweak the file navigation in the solution explorer?
ie. Currently, as you start typing it matches the file in the solution explorer for all expanded nodes, would be nice to be able to specify collapsed nodes as well.
I generally prefer keyboard navigation to mouse.

Messenger Live! has a textbox for searching contacts, something like this would be handy.

Any tips and tricks for navigating the solution files welcomed.

Cheers

Answer 1

Try Jetbrains Resharper, i love their navigation by class name or file name.

Answer 2

There is no way to do exactly what you're asking for.  The solution explorer selection works much like other tree controls in windows.  I wrote a blog entry that walks through a few of the different tools that VS has for navigating to open and closed files; hopefully one of them will work for you: http://blogs.msdn.com/ansonh/archive/2006/08/30/732451.aspx.

Thanks!
Anson Horton
Visual C# IDE PM

 

Answer 3

Thanks for taking the time to write up that blog post, lots of detail.
I'm familiar with most of the methods you described for opening a file, (except the short-cut for the find box and putting it into command mode), and I agree, though there are lots of ways to open a file, there isn't one that fits my exact criteria. Our current solution has 40+ projects to navigate, so the find dialog you wrote isn't suitable either, though if it was extended in the way you described that would do the job :)
My preference of late has been switching the find tool into command mode.

Cheers
Kieren