#002 Block or Column Select, Cut, Copy, Paste

January 4, 2009 by

Block or Column select has to do with selecting text for copy/paste/cut actions. You’re probably already aware of [SHIFT]+[Arrow] to select left or right, or up or down. You’ve even in fact used these keys in combination with each other to get just he right selection. Throw the [ALT] key into the mix and check out what happens.

[SHIFT]+[Arrow Key] = Select one letter or line (for up|down) at a time

[SHIFT]+[CTRL]+[Arrow Key] = Word Select

[SHIFT]+[ALT] +[Arrow Key] = Block Select

[ALT] + Mouse Drag = Column|Block Select from mouse X,Y to new X,Y coordinates.

UPDATE :: DECEMBER 2009

Block Select get’s even better in Studio 2010, Watch Video 503 for more information.

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Filed Under: VSTricks

#001 Incremental Search [CTRL]+[I]

January 4, 2009 by

Incremental search can also be thought of as live search. The cursor highlights the first finding as you’re typing the search term.

[CTRL]+[I] = Incremental Search

[CTRL]+[SHIFT]+[I] (Back Search)

[F3] – Find Next

[SHIFT]+[F3] – Find Previous

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Filed Under: VSTricks

VSTricks Introduction

January 1, 2009 by

VSTricks.com is alive (as of today) in part of a community new years (2009) resolution.

Today is January 1st, 2009, and I’m hearing everyone talking about resolutions. Working out, eating right, stop smoking, this and that, blah, blah, blah. Good. More power to you. If New Years is the lame excuse you need to get motivated (oh wait …. that’s me) then get a move on it, because before you know it, it’ll be 2010 and you’ll be looking back at another year in the review mirror wondering where it went, and what you accomplished.

I have always been a fan of the work Sara Ford has done on Visual Studio Tips of the Day. At TechEd2008, I talked to Sara about adding a video blog to just repeats her already done hard work. She gave the me high five and said "Go for it". Time slid by, weeks turn into months, and I didn’t do anything on the idea. It remained just an idea. But then, Sara recently announced she was done writing tips. A sad day for many that looked forward to the tips; and a renewed motivation for me to pick up on the ideas talked about with Sara in 2008.

So here it is; My 2009 Community New Years resolution.

Replay Sara’s Tip of the Day posts (starting with #1) with a video feed, explaining and showing the tip. Once these tips have been enhanced with Video, I hope to continue to work with the Visual Studio team to come up with additional tips and tricks.

Simple Goal. Add video to all 382 tips. That averages more than 1 a day, so I hope to do them in groups, and have them all done/posted and ready before the end of the year.

Wish me luck!

Here is a link to all the VSTricks I’ve done so far.

Filed Under: VSTricks

Microsoft Sites that don’t use LiveID

January 28, 0209 by

OK. I have a gripe! You guys know I’m not one usually to complain. This isn’t because I’m afraid to engage, it’s because I try to understand the other side. So I (sometimes too often) try to justify a reason that something I know is wrong, is still happening.

Everything has a reason, even when it’s not apparent.

We’ve all been there. Super frustrated and trash talking about “That is so crappy” or “I can’t believe this even exists” or “This coder should be shot” and on, and on. BUT … then something happens. You dig deeper and find the actually reason, and then it makes sense; and justifies what you originally thought was so wrong. Maybe you didn’t see or understand a minor detail that dictated the scenario.

Already this morning, (not exaggerating [this prompted the post]) I have logged into four different Microsoft web sites, that don’t support LiveID. The four sites I used today are not individually important, because I know there are dozens of sites that manage their own username/password data. I assume that most of them are built/managed by third parties, BUT … that is no longer a valid excuse. I’ve been hearing that for years. It’s a crappy excuse.

I’m not mud slinging, but this just needs to get fixed.

Maybe a little Community Heat will light a fire somewhere, and over the next year we’ll simplify log ins across Microsoft Properties.

Here is a suggestion list that will make it happen …

  • New Properties with user/password needs. No Excuses. Support LiveID or don’t get approved.
  • Existing Properties. Support LiveID by {Insert Month Here} 1, 2009, or get shut off.

Stop making excuses for your own sites, or your vendors, and get LiveID integrated system wide.

Thank you! 🙂

PS. People will undoubtedly mention OpenID in this conversation. While I’m a fan of OpenID, I don’t want to muddy the waters here. I think that LiveID will eventually support OpenID, and I’ll take that win when I get it. For now, all I want is Microsoft to force the LiveID options on vendors.

PPS. I’m sure people will also mention my lack of LiveID support. I own several very large properties that don’t support LiveID or OpenID. This is on our short list to add, BUT … I’m not Microsoft. My sites are not representing Microsoft to Microsoft Customers, who are logging in to do business with Microsoft.

Filed Under: Technology
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