Survival Guide to MS Visual
Studio’s Integrated Development Environment
Editing Shortcuts
Ctrl + C - Copy
Ctrl + X - Cut
Ctrl + V - Paste
Ctrl + Z - Undo
Ctrl + Y - Redo
Ctrl + A - Select All
Ctrl + F - brings up Find window. You can then enter a string and find
it in the current document you have the cursor in.
Ctrl + H - Search and Replace a particular string with another string.
F3 - attempts to find whatever was last entered into the Find Window.
Compiling Shortcuts
Shift + F4 - Will put the cursor on and highlight the previous error or
warning in the Build Window for the project. If it is already on the first, it
will go to the last error in the list.
F4 - Will put the cursor on the next error or warning in the Build
Window for the project. If it is already on the last, it will go to the first
error in the list.
F5 - Recompiles and links if any changes have been made and then runs
program.
F7 - Build - (Compiles and Links the current project)
Debugging Shortcuts
Ctrl + Shift + F5 - Restart the
debugging session.
Shift + F5 - Stop Debugging (while in the middle of a program).
F9 - toggle break point
F10 - Step Over - if you are on a function call, it will step over the
function.
F11- Step Into - if you are on a function call, it will step into the
function.
F12 - Will bring you to the first implementation it runs into of the
function you have selected. To use this function, the compiler may ask you if
you want to recompile your program so it can build the browse information.
Shift + F12 - Will bring you to the prototype of the function you have
highlighted. To use this function, the compiler may ask you if you want to
recompile your program so it can build the browse information.
Ctrl + F10 - Run to Cursor. Program will run from current cursor
position in the IDE, to the line where you have placed the blinking caret in the
IDE.
These are views that can be seen while the program is stopped at a user or
program defined breakpoint in the IDE (Integrated Development Environment).
Alt + 3 - Watch Window - in this window you can enter variable names
that are currently in scope and see their current values. You can also change
the values here.
Alt + 4 - Variables Window - shows the current variables that are in
scope and shows you the values of them.
Alt + 5 - Registers - shows the values that are currently in the CPU’s
registers
Alt + 6 - Memory Window - you can enter any hexadecimal value, and it
will show you the memory at that hexadecimal value as ASCII values and as
hexadecimal.
Alt + 7 - Call Stack - this view will show you all of the functions that
are presently on the call stack, ie all of the function calls that have not been
completed in the program you are debugging.
Alt + 8 - Disassembly View - this view shows the assembly language the
compiler creates.
Shift + F9 - Quick Watch - It will show any variable in scope that is
under the cursor and show its current value.