Visual Studio settings I always change
In the "Source control" settings, I always enable "Get latest version of item on check-out...", "Show deleted items on Source Control Explorer","Get everything when solution is opened" and disable "Attempt to automatically resolve conflicts when they are generated" - the last one can cause a lot of pain.
Additionally, I have to Configure the user tools as I don't really like the default compare and merge tools (even the new one in Visual Studio 2012). I use WinMerge for both operations so I have to add new user tools:
Extension .*; Operation Compare; Command C:\Program Files (x86)\WinMerge\WinMergeU.exe; Arguments /e /u /wl /wr /dl %6 /dr %7 %1 %2
Extension .*; Operation Merge; Command C:\Program Files (x86)\WinMerge\WinMergeU.exe;
Arguments /e /u /wl /dl %6 /dr %7 %1 %2 %4
Something else I usually do is to enable the Line numbers for all languages - not sure why by default they are on for a subset only.
Extension .*; Operation Merge; Command C:\Program Files (x86)\WinMerge\WinMergeU.exe;
Arguments /e /u /wl /dl %6 /dr %7 %1 %2 %4
Something else I usually do is to enable the Line numbers for all languages - not sure why by default they are on for a subset only.
Visual Studio extensions
SlowCheetah - XML Transform is an extension for building configuration transformations for your app.configs or whatever xml files you use.
Spell Checker - another extension that has saved me a lot of times.
XAML Regions is something I already wrote about how useful could be.
And a bunch of Telerik products' extensions - JustCode, JustMock, OpenAccess, Sitefinity Thunder, etc.
I also add one external tool that executes undo operation to all pending changes that has no changes (the files has only been checked out, but no modified).
Title: Unfo fake changes;
Command %windir%\System32\cmd.exe;
Arguments /C echo y | "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Team Foundation Server 2010 Power Tools\TFPT.EXE" uu /recursive /noget;
Initial directory $(SolutionDir)
All credits for this tool goes to this guy
And a bunch of Telerik products' extensions - JustCode, JustMock, OpenAccess, Sitefinity Thunder, etc.
I also add one external tool that executes undo operation to all pending changes that has no changes (the files has only been checked out, but no modified).
Title: Unfo fake changes;
Command %windir%\System32\cmd.exe;
Arguments /C echo y | "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Team Foundation Server 2010 Power Tools\TFPT.EXE" uu /recursive /noget;
Initial directory $(SolutionDir)
All credits for this tool goes to this guy
Storing your Visual Studio settings in the cloud
Recently, I found one awesome feature of JustCode - store your Visual Studio settings in the cloud (this should probably be incorporated on the logo, so everyone can see it). This saved me probably 30% of the work last time I had to pre install my PC. Just make sure to mark all settings for storing - by default some settings that are subject to intellectual property are not selected. And of course it can store your JustCode settings which is quite beneficial as well. What's even better - I can sync my settings on my work PC and on my PC so I can have unified experience no matter where I am.
One tip that I always forget to follow - after you set up your new environment, create a new workplace in TFS, otherwise your TFS status will be scrambled - Visual Studio will think you have the latest version of the file, while the file is not on your file system at all.
With this post I hope that someone's else reinstallation will be easier and faster. Or at least will give you a tip on how to improve your current set up.
