Sara Ford's Weblog
My adventures embracing open source on CodePlex and at Microsoft
Did you know… How to use the Task List
In Whidbey, we’ve split the Task List into two parts: Error List –for errors and warnings Task List...
Author: saraford Date: 06/07/2005
Role-Based Testing Strategy for Verifying Microsoft Active Accessibility
Below is something I’ve been working on for a while now, putting all of my thoughts regarding MSAA...
Author: saraford Date: 06/06/2005
Wish I could go to Tech Ed
Most of what I have been reading lately on the blogosphere is about going to Orlando and Tech Ed. I...
Author: saraford Date: 06/03/2005
McGyver Seasons 1 and 2 available on DVD
I love blog readers, especially when they let me know about these things. This blog post has moved...
Author: saraford Date: 05/31/2005
No fired chicken in Alabama schools?
That’s pretty neat they may start serving health-centric lunches in the school systems back...
Author: saraford Date: 05/30/2005
What Video Game Character I am
Sweet I am a Defender-ship. I am fiercely protective of my friends and loved ones, and unforgiving...
Author: saraford Date: 05/27/2005
Just like riding a bike again
Yesterday on the Lake Sammamish River trial was just perfect. Perfect temps, perfect breeze, perfect...
Author: saraford Date: 05/27/2005
Now you know you can’t write when your blog readers rewrite your posts for you
I recently got this comment posted to my alternative ending to The Dark Tower. Major spoiler alert –...
Author: saraford Date: 05/25/2005
Did you know… How to dock the Find and Replace Window in VS?
A commonly-asked question. By default, the general development settings profile will set the...
Author: saraford Date: 05/24/2005
Am I the only one around here who loved Star Wars III?
Everyone I’ve talked to and every blog I’ve read (that I can find) has been either negative or...
Author: saraford Date: 05/24/2005
Did you know…. Use Ctrl+k, Ctrl+v to search quickly in the Class View
Just press Ctrl+k Ctrl+v, and the class view will pop up (if not already opened) and place focus in...
Author: saraford Date: 05/20/2005
Did you know… how to access a tool window’s toolbars from the keyboard
A few tool windows include access to their toolbars in their tab order (so you can press Tab and...
Author: saraford Date: 05/19/2005
Did you know… How to stop a background Find?
On the Find Results tool windows, there’s a toolbar icon called “Stops a background Find”, in case...
Author: saraford Date: 05/19/2005
Did you know… How to use the Code Definition Window
For Visual Studio 2005, we have a new tool window called the Code Definition Window. The Code...
Author: saraford Date: 05/17/2005
Did you know… How to use Visual Studio to open a file via the command line
Make sure the VS install location is a part of your path. For example, “program...
Author: saraford Date: 05/16/2005
Did you know… Dragging and dropping a dll into VS 2005 will show it in Object Browser
Did you know… Dragging and dropping a dll into VS 2005 will show it in Object Browser In VS...
Author: saraford Date: 05/13/2005
Landmark experiences to replace birthdays as a true sign of age
I meant to post this on my birthday 2 months ago. How time flies. Some people get so upset...
Author: saraford Date: 05/13/2005
Commands not working in Editor?
Sean talks more at https://blogs.msdn.com/vseditor/archive/2005/05/12/417011.aspx Quick summary: To...
Author: saraford Date: 05/12/2005
Did you know… How to turn off outlining mode?
For VB, it is found at Tools – Options – Text Editor – Basic – VB Specific –...
Author: saraford Date: 05/12/2005
Did you know… How to use File Extension mapping to get syntax highlighting of a file extension
In VS 2005, go to Tools – Options – Text Editor – File Extension page. Here you can map a file...
Author: saraford Date: 05/11/2005
Did you know…. How to use the Object Browser to search the .NET Framework
This tip is for VS 2005. You can search the entire .NET Framework using the Object...
Author: saraford Date: 05/11/2005
Did you know… Virtual tabs in C# - we’re looking for feedback
Have you ever arrowed up or down within a method body only to find the cursor jump to the beginning...
Author: saraford Date: 05/09/2005
Did you know… How to use the Recording Macro (Ctrl+Shift+R)
I find using the Recording Macro great for Learning more about our object model and DTE Getting a...
Author: saraford Date: 05/05/2005
Did you know… How to Format a Document (Ctrl+K, Ctrl+D) or a Selection (Ctrl+K, Ctrl+F)
Ever been typing in the editor, and for whatever reason, the text isn’t indented properly on the...
Author: saraford Date: 05/04/2005
Did you know... How to Debug AddRef/Release Issues in Visual Studio?
Today's Tip of the Day comes from Dylan... This blog post has moved to...
Author: saraford Date: 05/03/2005
Did you know… Use Shift+Alt+F10 to invoke smart tags
The keyboard shortcut to show smart tags in the editor is This blog post has moved to...
Author: saraford Date: 05/02/2005
Did you know…How to see keyboard shortcuts in tooltips?
Remembering keyboard shortcuts can often be difficult but they can also save you quite a bit of...
Author: saraford Date: 04/28/2005
Did you know… How to change default language in Visual Studio 2005
I’ve already posted about the import / export settings feature, but then I saw this MSDN Forum...
Author: saraford Date: 04/28/2005
Did you know… How to share code snippets with other team members
Jason asked a great question yesterday, so i’m making the answer today’s tip of the day. Put the...
Author: saraford Date: 04/28/2005
Did you know… How to quickly increase and decrease text size in the Editor
Too often I see people struggling to get the font size just right in the Editor for...
Author: saraford Date: 04/27/2005
Did you know… Visual Studio 2005 support for Code Snippets
One of the big new features of the Visual Studio 2005 release for the Editor team and for the...
Author: saraford Date: 04/26/2005
Blame me if you don’t see Brief or Emacs keybindings in the Beta 2 Standard SKU
Update: Sean has a much better workaround at...
Author: saraford Date: 04/26/2005
Did you know… New Accessibility Macros in Visual Studio 2005 for tweaking colors and font sizes in the editor
I wrote the Accessibility Macros for Visual Studio 2005, my proud 131 line contribution to the...
Author: saraford Date: 04/25/2005
Did you know… How to enable Emacs and Brief Emulations in Visual Studio 2005
Go to Tools – Options – Keyboard and set “Keyboard mapping scheme” to either Brief or Emacs. Press...
Author: saraford Date: 04/22/2005
Did you know… How tool window docking works in Visual Studio 2005
Here’s an old post of mine about the new Tool Window docking model, the File Tab Channel, and the...
Author: saraford Date: 04/21/2005
Did you know… How to enable or disable the IDE Navigator
This tip is for Visual Studio 2005. We have a new feature called the IDE Navigator. When...
Author: saraford Date: 04/20/2005
What blogs should the Visual Studio Core team read?
I want to put together a list of recommended blog reading for my team. Ideally, I’m looking for...
Author: saraford Date: 04/20/2005
Apparently, it is possible to break a rib by coughing too much
I’ve had a really bad cold since my birthday when I hiked Tiger Mountain. 5 weeks later, I’m still...
Author: saraford Date: 04/20/2005
Did you know… How to import and export settings in Visual Studio
This tip is for Visual Studio 2005. A feature near and dear to my heart is the VSSettings feature,...
Author: saraford Date: 04/20/2005
Did you know… How to subscribe to this Tip of the Day in the Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 Start Page?
Now that Beta 2 has been released, I can finally talk about Beta 2 tips and tricks. And,...
Author: saraford Date: 04/18/2005
Did you know… How to customize fonts and colors for printing?
Suppose you need to increase the font size of the code when you go to print. Or you need to...
Author: saraford Date: 04/15/2005
If you use Regular Expressions, you need to check out this Regex Builder tool
One of my coworkers in Visual Studio has created this really cool tool for creating and testing...
Author: saraford Date: 04/15/2005
Did you know... How to save your favorite window layouts in Visual Studio .NET 2003
This tip is for Visual Studio .NET 2003. Although it will work in Visual Studio 2005, there...
Author: saraford Date: 04/14/2005
Did you know… How to print line numbers in VS?
To print line numbers in Visual Studio .NET 2003, go to File – Page Setup, and check “Line numbers”...
Author: saraford Date: 04/13/2005
Did you know… Use Ctrl+Alt+J to open the Object Browser
In Visual Studio .NET 2003, the object browser allows you to browse all assemblies referenced by...
Author: saraford Date: 04/12/2005
Did you know… Use Ctrl+K, Ctrl+K to toggle bookmarks
These sets of tips are for Visual Studio .NET 2003. In Whidbey, bookmarks have a lot more...
Author: saraford Date: 04/11/2005
Did you know… Ctrl+L cuts the current line and Ctrl+W selects the current word
Ctrl+L will cut the current line (including EOL) Ctrl+W will select the current word Let me know if...
Author: saraford Date: 04/08/2005