Tips and Tricks

13 Things About Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022 You May Not Have Known

Even if you already are an experienced user of the Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022 or just looking for a tool that will simplify the process of developing programs using Visual Studio, we might have something new to tell you.

In this article, we will look at 13 interesting Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022 features you may not know yet, but they will be definitely useful for you.

#1 How to quick fix code issues?

Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022 automatically analyzes your C++ code and uses statistical analysis to find common programming errors. The place in the code where the error is found is underlined.

To find out the cause of the error, you need to hover over the underlined characters. If the problem in the code is dimmed or solid underlined, there is a quick fix available for the error. If the error is dotted underlined, no quick fix is available, but you can still find out the cause of the error.

#2 How to surround code with a snippet?

You can surround the selected part of the code with a snippet. Some snippets allow you to wrap only entire lines of code, while others can wrap code in the middle of a line.

You can surround some code with a snippet using the appropriate menu command or hotkeys that need to be specially configured.

#3 How to create a snippet from the selection?

You can quickly create snippets from ready-made code using Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022. Just select the desired code and choose the menu command VAssistX -> Tools -> Create VA Snippet from the selection.

The snippet editor will open. In this editor, you can change the code, replace variables and constants with placeholders, and enter a title, description, and hotkeys to insert the snippet.

#4 How to debug crash dumps with VA Memory View?

Visual Assist Memory View is a tool that allows you to debug crash dumps when the call stack is corrupted or is in a release build.

Memory View displays the following data:

  • The address. By default, the start address is the one pointed to by ESP/RSP.
  • Content. This is the value that is stored in the address.
  • Module. The name of the module where the memory address resides. This field is empty if the memory address is not in the module.
  • Symbol name. The symbol at the memory address, if it is found or recognized.

#5 How to step over methods using the debugger?

Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022 has a Step Filter tool that allows you to step over certain methods when debugging applications.

If the method in the parameter list contains another method, then, during debugging, we must first get inside the method that is in the parameters. If for some reason you want to step over this method, then you can add it to the Step Filter.

#6 How to add source links to comments?

With Virtual Assist you can add source links to comment substrings. They connect comments to external applications or websites such as bug trackers, documentation, case managers, etc.

A source link opens when you double-click on it. Hovering the mouse over a link will open a tooltip that contains basic information about the connected application or website.

#7 How to go to a related symbol?

This feature allows you to simplify the process of navigating through the code and quickly jump to the associated symbol by using the current symbol’s location.

Depending on the type of symbol, you can go to different places such as base class or method, inherited class or method, type, hashtag, header file, constructor, declaration, etc.

#8 How to list all classes and methods in the file?

The Context field allows you to list all classes and methods declared or implemented in the current file. Also, you can filter the opened list. The Context field is located on the left side of the Visual Assist navigation bar.

In addition to classes and methods, the list can also include member variables, structures, enumerations, defines, events, properties, and regions.

#9 How to automatically encapsulate a field?

The encapsulate field command is available from the refactoring menu. It allows you to automatically create methods for reading and writing the value of a field while restricting access to the field itself. When you call this command, a dialog box opens in which you can edit the name of the setter and getter, as well as change the visibility of the field.

#10 How to create a declaration or implementation?

If a method in a class has only an implementation, then with Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022 you can automatically generate its declaration. To do this, select the appropriate command from the refactoring menu. The method declaration and implementation will have the same parameters.

If a matching header file exists, then the declaration will be placed in it. Otherwise, the declaration will be generated in the source file.

Similarly, you can generate a method implementation for an existing method declaration.

#11 How to document a method?

Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022 allows you to easily document a method. To do this, select the declaration of the required method and click the required command from the context menu.

After that, a block of comments will appear before the method. This block will list the parameters of the method and the return value in separate lines.

#12 How to repair the case?

Virtual Assist has an automatic case correction feature. You can enter characters in the wrong case and they will be automatically corrected. If there is more than one way to correct the value, no automatic correction occurs.

#13 How to highlight syntax?

Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022 allows you to add or change your IDE’s code highlighting. You can choose colors that suit you for classes, variables, preprocessor macros, enum members, methods, and namespaces.

In addition, it is possible to add highlighting to various components, such as tool windows.

Choose Visual Assist For Visual Studio 2022 and make the application development process quick and easy.

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