Getting started. VS Shell Isolated, project template, csharp editor?

Question

So far, I've created a custom csharp project template. This appears in VS 2008 under the CSharp project type in the my templates section.

 

Then I created a VS Shell Isolated project. I also created a VS Integration package and I can start the IsoShell, see my menu, toolbar, etc. But the IsoShell can only create a blank solution with no project types. 

 

So I played around with that storyboard demo. First, I just downloaded the source, unzip, built and ran and it also had no project types. Then I also downloaded and installed the setup version. Now both the installed version and running from source, it will show a storyboard project for me to create. I see the storyboard.zip project template in the source directory I unzipped but nowhere in the actual installed storyboard directory or it's my documents stuff does it have this template. So where is it getting it from?

 

Questions:

1) Where is the storyboard project getting it's project template from? I looked in the registry and those template dirs are pointed at the VS2008 directories which don't have that zip.

 

2) I want to create a new custom project (user should be able to choose csharp or vb I presume) that lets me build forms. It will be of the multi file type where I'll have a custom editor that stores data in one file, but then I still want the default source editor for the code that I will auto generate. Can I do this in the IsoShell? Do I have to somehow attach a csharp or vb integration package to my isolated shell to be able to build csharp/vb compilable projects?

 

3) Is that why the custom project I exported from VS 2008 is not available in the IsoShell? Because it's project type is CSharp and my shell has no project types? I tried copying to what I think are the right IsoShell directories and I set the IsoShell registry entries for the template directories. Still nothing.

 

4) How do I create a new solution and project template to appear in the IsoShell new menu option?

 

5) What's a good IsoShell sample program that opens up with a custom project, has a custom editor, and compiles to csharp? The storyboard designer doesn't compile anything.

 

6) I want all the current souce editting, compiling and debuging that I get in VS 2008. Is this all available from within the Isolated Shell or do I have to reinvent the wheel all over again to get csharp back into the IsoShell.

 

7) Am I better off with just a VS integration package and deploying within the standard VS2008? I had thought to go with the IsoShell to just keep things clean and simple.

 

Sorry for all the questions.

 

thanks!

 

 

Answer 1

Hi,

 

Let's see..

 

1- Its getting it from %VS Install Dir%\Common7\IDE\ProjectTemplates\StoryboardDesigner

2- A custom project doesn't inherit from any other project system. I think you are referring to a flavor project, but you cant create a flavor project in the VS Shell. See answer 6

3- Yes it is

4-

http://www.clariusconsulting.net/blogs/pga/archive/2007/11/22/VSShellandtheregistry.aspx

http://www.clariusconsulting.net/blogs/pga/archive/2007/10/04/DeployingVStemplatesforaVSShellIsolatedapplication.aspx

5- Take a look at IronPython Studio (http://www.codeplex.com/IronPythonStudio). It has all the things you need but compiles to IronPython

6- The VS Shell Isolated provides only the shell. It doesn't provide any language service, project system, etc. Depending on your needs you may use the VS Shell Integrated mode.

7- Depends on your needs..

 

Pablo

Answer 2

Hi,

I've been going through a lot of tutorials relating to the isolated shell lately, and the only thing that i have continually had trouble with is getting an isolated shell's installed templates to work, in particular, the templates from a DSL.  So to keep things clear i'll explain what I'm doing and then if anyone can answer how to get the installed templates to work that would be perfect.

1. Start a new solution
2. Add a new isolated shell project to the solution
3. Add the family tree example to the solution (%VS2008SDK%\VisualStudioIntegration\Samples\DSLTools\Example.Validation\Example.FamilyTree, add both the Dsl and the DslPackage)
4. Set the shell dependencies (both the Dsl and DslPackage)
5. F5 to build and run

Now I can create a file (or open something created in explorer) that has the proper extension (*.ftree) and the family tree DSL kicks in and i get a nice editor.  But if I use the create new... dialogs, the templates won't be displayed, as well they shouldn't be since I haven't installed them yet.  The family tree sample comes with templates, but i'm just not sure how install them.  After building the solution, the templates are packaged up in the PackagesToLoad directory.  The structure is "CSharp\1033\TestValidation.zip" (also VisualBasic instead of CSharp).  So now i am curious what to do with these two directories, not only for debugging but also if i create a setup project for this solution.

So I am curious if I should copy just the zip file or the CSharp directory, and put it in %VS Install Dir%\Common7\IDE\ProjectTemplates\ or %VS Install Dir%\Common7\IDE\ItemTemplates\ or maybe some completely different location.  My end goal is to copy these templates somewhere (and perform any additional operations if necessary) so that when i hit F5, the solution builds, starts, and allows me to create a new family tree file (through the conventional new file dialog).

Thanks.

Answer 3

I'm getting the same experience with Custom Projects.  BTW, if you try to do a clean build both IronPython or StoryboardDesigner (make sure the binaries haven't been installed), the templates are not copied and the New -> Project doesn't show them.
 
Getting started is not a straight-forward experience with Custom Projects and the Isolated Shell.

It would be great if one could give us what is missing from these simple steps to get it working:

1. Create a new Isolated Shell
2. Create a new VSPackage in C#
3. Set the Shell dependencies to this new VSPackage
4. Enable VSSDKAssist
5. Use VSSDKAssist to create a new Custom Project

It's mind-boggling !

BTW:  I've tried to play with <TargetRegisterRoot> in the C# project...

Good luck

Answer 4

Any update on a good guidance for custom projects setup with isolated shell ?

I have also been struggling for several weeks now, and I'm still blocked at a stage where my projects will show up when launching the isoshell from VS Studio. I found out that It would also work when launching directly the Release binaries if I put the /RANU switch. 

I tried to install the same on my test PC (on XP without VS 2008, while my dev machine is on Vista). All registries seem ok, and I duplicated as much as I could all directories (VS SDK, MyDocument\MyApp\...) from my dev machine to the XP one ... but to no avail.

I only see File/New Project only showing "Web Project"

Isn't there any usable documentation for intalling custom projects on iso shell (I'm afraid the references above are not clear enough for me .. ) ?

Thanks.

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Jerome Hannebelle

Answer 5

Exact same problem as Jerome :  http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vsx/thread/5264731e-ba92-4bcf-8319-500cc3ea5d15

Regards,
Carl Hoogstoel
C4 Consulting

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Jungle Boy