CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#visual-studio-2010visual-studio-debuggingvisual-studio-extensions
Kunan
Kunan

Reputation: 153

Extend the Visual Studio Locals/Autos window through code

Is it possible to extend what appears in the VS Locals/Autos window through code? Like through a Visual Studio Extension? I would like to iterate through the displayed variables and manipulate how they are organized and appear.

I have read up on techniques like using AutoExp.dat and .NatVis, but would like to write code that actively re-arranges the structure of displayed items via C# code. All of our types have a similar structure, and I would like more flexibility than doing this via a massive type-specific file.

I am trying to make it simpler for people to read our generated code structures.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 542

Answers (1)

JerKimball
JerKimball

Reputation: 16934

If you're talking about what displays when you mouse-over/add a watch, there's the DebuggerDisplay attribute:

Using DebuggerDisplay Attribute

Enhancing Debugging with the Debugger Display Attributes

Oh, almost forgot: for more complicated debugger extensions, you can always create your own Visualizer - this is similar to what you get if you use the little magnifying glass/drop down on a variable during debugging:

Visualizers

CodeProject - Create a visualizer in 10 lines of code

Upvotes: 1

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