[2008] Cool alt+tabbing feature

[kleinma]

Just found this gem last night while reading through some VB team blog entries... I didn't know it existed, so I figured I would share with anyone who also is not aware of it.

In Visual Studio 2008, you can use ctrl+tab to bring up quick switch between any of the active (open) documents and even the active tool windows. It even creates small screenshots of the selected item. If you use alt+tab to toggle windows in your day to day computer use, then you will likely find this to be really useful in your VS development.

[Hack]

Cool tip - Thanks!

[Atheist]

Thats a neat feature

[Kasracer]

Works in 2005 and, I thought, 2002/2003. Of course the earlier versions weren't as cool but whatever.

[kleinma]

Works in 2005 and, I thought, 2002/2003. Of course the earlier versions weren't as cool but whatever.

Yeah it seems to improve with every release.

I don't have 2002 (never did actually), but I know 2003 just would toggle between the open document tabs in visual studio.

2005 was more like 2008, but was not nearly as visually appealing, and featured no preview window.

So yes the feature is there to some degree in the previous versions, but 2008 has the biggest feature set (and rightfully so)

[Clanguage]

Cool Tip,
I also noticed that you can use the arrow keys for navigation. By the way I am using the express edition.
Thanks for sharing

[kleinma]

Yeah, by default the ctrl+tab only will enumerate through the open files. If you arrow over to the active tool window list, you can then enumerate through that with tab or arrows.

[kleinma]

If you like that and are still using Windows XP, then this is also a must have

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ertoySetup.exe

It replaces the alt+tab task switcher in Windows XP with one that also gives screenshot previews of the windows (similar to Vista Aero alt+tabbing)

[JuggaloBrotha]

If you like that and are still using Windows XP, then this is also a must have

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ertoySetup.exe

It replaces the alt+tab task switcher in Windows XP with one that also gives screenshot previews of the windows (similar to Vista Aero alt+tabbing)

You you provide a link to the download details please?

[GaryMazzone]

Go to microsoft and look up PowerToy for XP. There are some other things there also

[kleinma]

There isn't really a description page I saw... Here is the page that has the direct EXE link

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...powertoys.mspx

But the only txt provided is:

Alt-Tab Replacement
With this PowerToy, in addition to seeing the icon of the application window you are switching to, you will also see a preview of the page. This helps particularly when multiple sessions of an application are open.

Here is a screenshot