With start-up templates for projects ranging from Windows applications to web services, and extensive help and on-line documentation, Visual Studio .NET might be mistaken for a tool for unsophisticated users. It's true that most developers soon discover that the basic operation of Visual Studio is fairly self-explanatory; less obvious are some of the suite's more advanced built-in features. Visual Studio .Net includes a wealth of little-used capabilities, is very customizable, has a complete automation model, and much more. On top its regular feature set, there are hosts of free add-ins, macros, and power toys that can further enhance the functionality of Visual Studio. This book is all about exploring these things, and in doing so, becoming a better and more efficient developer.Developers will learn how to: * Get the most out of projects and solutions, including getting down and dirty with the undocumented format of project and solution files * Use these editor features to the fullest, and add additional functionality to the editor through the use of third-party add-ins * Learn smarter ways to navigate the application and your own source code * Customize shortcut keys, toolbars, menus, the toolbox, and much more * Use the debugger successfully not only on your source code, but with T-SQL and scripting languages as well * Automatically generate code * Learn how the server can be used to interface with databases, services, and performance counters, as well as WMI * Use and create Visual Studio add-ins to extend its functionality Offering valuable tips, tools, and tricks, Visual Studio Hacks takes you far beyond the suite's usual capabilities. You can read this book from cover to cover or, because each hack stands its own, you can feel free to browse and jump to the different sections that interest you most. If there's a prerequisite you need to know about, a cross-reference will guide you to the right hack.If you want to experience the full spectrum of Visual Studio's functionality and flexibility, you'll find the perfect guide for exploration in Visual Studio Hacks. Once the final page is turned, you can confidently say that you've been exposed to everything that Visual Studio .NET is capable of doing.

With start-up templates for projects ranging from Windows applications to web services, and extensive help and on-line documentation, Visual Studio .NET might be mistaken for a tool for unsophisticated users. It''s true that most developers soon discover that the basic operation of Visual Studio is fairly self-explanatory; less obvious are some of the suite''s more advanced built-in features.Visual Studio .Net includes a wealth of little-used capabilities, is very customizable, has a complete automation model, and much more. On top of its regular feature set, there are hosts of free add-ins, macros, and power toys that can further enhance the functionality of Visual Studio. This book is all about exploring these things, and in doing so, becoming a better and more efficient developer. Developers will learn how to:

Get the most out of projects and solutions, including getting down and dirty with the undocumented format of project and solution filesUse these editor features to the fullest, and add additional functionality to the editor through the use of third-party add-insLearn smarter ways to navigate the application and your own source codeCustomize shortcut keys, toolbars, menus, the toolbox, and much moreUse the debugger successfully not only on your source code, but with T-SQL and scripting languages as wellAutomatically generate codeLearn how the server can be used to interface with databases, services, and performance counters, as well as WMIUse and create Visual Studio add-ins to extend its functionalityOffering valuable tips, tools, and tricks, Visual Studio Hacks takes you far beyond the suite''s usual capabilities. You can read this book from cover to cover or, because each hack stands its own, you can feel free to browse and jump to the different sections that interest you most. If there''s a prerequisite you need to know about, a cross-reference will guide you to the right hack.If you want to experience the full spectrum of Visual Studio''s functionality and flexibility, you''ll find the perfect guide for exploration in Visual Studio Hacks. Once the final page is turned, you can confidently say that you''ve been exposed to everything that Visual Studio .NET is capable of doing.

Software developers need to work harder and harder to bring value to their development process in order to build high quality applications and remain competitive. Developers can accomplish this by improving their productivity, quickly solving problems, and writing better code.

A wealth of open source and free software tools are available for developers who want to improve the way they create, build, deploy, and use software. Tools, components, and frameworks exist to help developers at every point in the development process. Windows Developer Power Tools offers an encyclopedic guide to more than 170 of these free tools to help developers build top-notch Windows software from desktop applications to web services.

To help you choose the right tools for solving both common and uncommon problems you face each day, this book follows a unique task-oriented organization, laying out topics in the same order that you and your team are likely to encounter them as you work on a project. Each tool entry features a solid introduction -- a mini user''s guide -- so you can get up to speed quickly and understand how to best use the tool in your environment. Inside, you''ll find:

A guide to more than 170 tools covering 24 unique aspects of Windows and .NET software development, with many descriptions contributed by the tools'' authorsDescriptions of freely available ASP.NET and Windows Forms controls, object relational mapping systems, testing frameworks, and build and continuous integration toolsArticles on tools to help developers troubleshoot misbehaving applicationsGuides for utilities to boost productivity in the development environment as well as speeding up tasks in Windows itself"Quick pick" lists at the start of each chapter to help you find and choose the right tool for your task"At a Glance" and "In a Nutshell" summaries to help readers more quickly narrow their optionsReferences to an online book site to keep you up-to-date with new releases and featuresForewords by Mike Gunderloy (Larkware) and Scott Hanselman (http://www.hanselman.com/tools), operators of the two most popular tools sites for Microsoft developers.

Also, plenty of links in each article point you to additional detail online if you wish to delve more deeply into features and functionality. This one-stop resource covers a wide range of open source and freeware tools to help you answer questions around planning, developing, testing, and rolling out great software. Best of all, they''re free.

With start-up templates for projects ranging from Windows applications to web services, and extensive help and on-line documentation, Visual Studio .NET might be mistaken for a tool for unsophisticated users. It's true that most developers soon discover that the basic operation of Visual Studio is fairly self-explanatory; less obvious are some of the suite's more advanced built-in features. Visual Studio .Net includes a wealth of little-used capabilities, is very customizable, has a complete automation model, and much more. On top its regular feature set, there are hosts of free add-ins, macros, and power toys that can further enhance the functionality of Visual Studio. This book is all about exploring these things, and in doing so, becoming a better and more efficient developer.Developers will learn how to: * Get the most out of projects and solutions, including getting down and dirty with the undocumented format of project and solution files * Use these editor features to the fullest, and add additional functionality to the editor through the use of third-party add-ins * Learn smarter ways to navigate the application and your own source code * Customize shortcut keys, toolbars, menus, the toolbox, and much more * Use the debugger successfully not only on your source code, but with T-SQL and scripting languages as well * Automatically generate code * Learn how the server can be used to interface with databases, services, and performance counters, as well as WMI * Use and create Visual Studio add-ins to extend its functionality Offering valuable tips, tools, and tricks, Visual Studio Hacks takes you far beyond the suite's usual capabilities. You can read this book from cover to cover or, because each hack stands its own, you can feel free to browse and jump to the different sections that interest you most. If there's a prerequisite you need to know about, a cross-reference will guide you to the right hack.If you want to experience the full spectrum of Visual Studio's functionality and flexibility, you'll find the perfect guide for exploration in Visual Studio Hacks. Once the final page is turned, you can confidently say that you've been exposed to everything that Visual Studio .NET is capable of doing.

With start-up templates for projects ranging from Windows applications to web services, and extensive help and on-line documentation, Visual Studio .NET might be mistaken for a tool for unsophisticated users. It''s true that most developers soon discover that the basic operation of Visual Studio is fairly self-explanatory; less obvious are some of the suite''s more advanced built-in features.Visual Studio .Net includes a wealth of little-used capabilities, is very customizable, has a complete automation model, and much more. On top of its regular feature set, there are hosts of free add-ins, macros, and power toys that can further enhance the functionality of Visual Studio. This book is all about exploring these things, and in doing so, becoming a better and more efficient developer. Developers will learn how to:

Get the most out of projects and solutions, including getting down and dirty with the undocumented format of project and solution filesUse these editor features to the fullest, and add additional functionality to the editor through the use of third-party add-insLearn smarter ways to navigate the application and your own source codeCustomize shortcut keys, toolbars, menus, the toolbox, and much moreUse the debugger successfully not only on your source code, but with T-SQL and scripting languages as wellAutomatically generate codeLearn how the server can be used to interface with databases, services, and performance counters, as well as WMIUse and create Visual Studio add-ins to extend its functionalityOffering valuable tips, tools, and tricks, Visual Studio Hacks takes you far beyond the suite''s usual capabilities. You can read this book from cover to cover or, because each hack stands its own, you can feel free to browse and jump to the different sections that interest you most. If there''s a prerequisite you need to know about, a cross-reference will guide you to the right hack.If you want to experience the full spectrum of Visual Studio''s functionality and flexibility, you''ll find the perfect guide for exploration in Visual Studio Hacks. Once the final page is turned, you can confidently say that you''ve been exposed to everything that Visual Studio .NET is capable of doing.

Software developers need to work harder and harder to bring value to their development process in order to build high quality applications and remain competitive. Developers can accomplish this by improving their productivity, quickly solving problems, and writing better code.

A wealth of open source and free software tools are available for developers who want to improve the way they create, build, deploy, and use software. Tools, components, and frameworks exist to help developers at every point in the development process. Windows Developer Power Tools offers an encyclopedic guide to more than 170 of these free tools to help developers build top-notch Windows software from desktop applications to web services.

To help you choose the right tools for solving both common and uncommon problems you face each day, this book follows a unique task-oriented organization, laying out topics in the same order that you and your team are likely to encounter them as you work on a project. Each tool entry features a solid introduction -- a mini user''s guide -- so you can get up to speed quickly and understand how to best use the tool in your environment. Inside, you''ll find:

A guide to more than 170 tools covering 24 unique aspects of Windows and .NET software development, with many descriptions contributed by the tools'' authorsDescriptions of freely available ASP.NET and Windows Forms controls, object relational mapping systems, testing frameworks, and build and continuous integration toolsArticles on tools to help developers troubleshoot misbehaving applicationsGuides for utilities to boost productivity in the development environment as well as speeding up tasks in Windows itself"Quick pick" lists at the start of each chapter to help you find and choose the right tool for your task"At a Glance" and "In a Nutshell" summaries to help readers more quickly narrow their optionsReferences to an online book site to keep you up-to-date with new releases and featuresForewords by Mike Gunderloy (Larkware) and Scott Hanselman (http://www.hanselman.com/tools), operators of the two most popular tools sites for Microsoft developers.

Also, plenty of links in each article point you to additional detail online if you wish to delve more deeply into features and functionality. This one-stop resource covers a wide range of open source and freeware tools to help you answer questions around planning, developing, testing, and rolling out great software. Best of all, they''re free.