Devart T4 Editor For Visual Studio 2010

Introduction

As a developer, you're likely familiar with the challenges of working with T4 templates in Visual Studio. The lack of a dedicated editor can make it difficult to create, edit, and manage these templates efficiently. This is where Devart T4 Editor comes in – a powerful Visual Studio 2010 add-in designed to simplify the process of working with T4 templates. In this article, we'll delve into the key features and benefits of using Devart T4 Editor, and explore how it can enhance your productivity and overall development experience.

Key Features

Intellisense

Devart T4 Editor provides comprehensive intellisense, including all Visual Studio C# and Visual Basic intellisense features. This means you get tooltips, parameter info, code completion, and a completion list for template directives. But that's not all – the editor also lists all available C# classes and members, even those that are in included template files and referenced assemblies. This level of intellisense support makes it easier to write code and reduces the likelihood of errors.

Intellisense in Action

Imagine you're working on a complex T4 template, and you need to access a specific class or method. With Devart T4 Editor, you can simply type the class or method name, and the editor will provide a list of available options. You can then select the desired option, and the editor will complete the code for you. This level of automation saves you time and reduces the cognitive load associated with writing code.

Syntax Highlighting

Devart T4 Editor highlights template directives, C# and Visual Basic code, making it easier to distinguish between different code elements. You can customize fonts and colors for templates just like any other Visual Studio code editor. This level of customization allows you to tailor the editor to your preferences and work style.

Syntax Highlighting in Action

Let's say you're working on a T4 template that contains a mix of C# and Visual Basic code. With Devart T4 Editor, you can easily distinguish between the two languages, thanks to the syntax highlighting feature. This makes it easier to navigate and understand the code, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving overall productivity.

Goto

Devart T4 Editor allows you to navigate to definitions and declarations of objects and members if they are present in the template file or included files. This feature is particularly useful when working with complex T4 templates that contain multiple levels of nesting.

Goto in Action

Imagine you're working on a T4 template that contains a complex data model. You need to navigate to a specific object or member, but you're not sure where it's located. With Devart T4 Editor, you can simply use the Goto feature to navigate to the desired object or member. This saves you time and reduces the cognitive load associated with navigating complex code.

Include

Devart T4 Editor supports multilevel template including. This means you can include multiple levels of templates, and the editor will still provide intellisense and navigation support. This feature is particularly useful when working with complex T4 templates that contain multiple levels of nesting.

Include in Action

Let's say you're working on a T4 template that includes multiple levels of templates. With Devart T4 Editor, you can easily navigate between the different levels of templates, thanks to the include feature. This makes it easier to understand and edit the code, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving overall productivity.

Outlining

Devart T4 Editor supports fast and convenient code folding feature. You can hide or display T4 control blocks, which simplifies template understanding and editing.

Outlining in Action

Imagine you're working on a T4 template that contains a complex data model. You need to hide or display specific control blocks to simplify the code and improve understanding. With Devart T4 Editor, you can easily hide or display control blocks using the outlining feature. This makes it easier to understand and edit the code, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving overall productivity.

Editor Customization

You can enable or disable intellisense, word wrapping, virtual whitespace, line numbers, etc. Fonts and colors for syntax highlighting also can be changed.

Editor Customization in Action

Let's say you prefer a specific font or color scheme for your code editor. With Devart T4 Editor, you can easily customize the editor to suit your preferences. This makes it easier to work with the editor and improves overall productivity.

Indenting

Devart T4 editor provides customizable and intelligent indenting. You don't need to add spaces or tab characters manually.

Indenting in Action

Imagine you're working on a T4 template that contains complex code structures. With Devart T4 Editor, you can easily customize the indenting scheme to suit your preferences. This makes it easier to write and edit code, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving overall productivity.

Code Formatting

Devart T4 Editor allows you to format templates automatically.

Code Formatting in Action

Let's say you need to format a complex T4 template to improve readability. With Devart T4 Editor, you can easily format the template automatically, thanks to the code formatting feature. This makes it easier to understand and edit the code, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving overall productivity.

Conclusion

Introduction

As a developer, you may have questions about Devart T4 Editor and its features. In this article, we'll address some of the most frequently asked questions about Devart T4 Editor, providing you with a better understanding of this powerful Visual Studio 2010 add-in.

Q&A

Q: What is Devart T4 Editor?

A: Devart T4 Editor is a powerful Visual Studio 2010 add-in designed to simplify the process of working with T4 templates. It provides comprehensive intellisense, syntax highlighting, Goto, include, outlining, editor customization, indenting, and code formatting features.

Q: What are the system requirements for Devart T4 Editor?

A: Devart T4 Editor requires Visual Studio 2010 to be installed on your system. It also requires .NET Framework 4.0 or later to be installed.

Q: Can I use Devart T4 Editor with other versions of Visual Studio?

A: No, Devart T4 Editor is specifically designed for Visual Studio 2010. If you're using a different version of Visual Studio, you may need to use a different add-in or editor.

Q: How do I install Devart T4 Editor?

A: To install Devart T4 Editor, simply download the installer from the Devart website and follow the installation instructions. Once installed, you can access the editor from within Visual Studio 2010.

Q: Can I customize the editor to suit my preferences?

A: Yes, Devart T4 Editor provides a range of customization options, including font and color schemes, intellisense, and outlining. You can also customize the indenting scheme to suit your preferences.

Q: Does Devart T4 Editor support multilevel template including?

A: Yes, Devart T4 Editor supports multilevel template including. This means you can include multiple levels of templates, and the editor will still provide intellisense and navigation support.

Q: Can I use Devart T4 Editor with other languages, such as Visual Basic?

A: Yes, Devart T4 Editor supports both C# and Visual Basic languages. You can use the editor with either language, and it will provide comprehensive intellisense and syntax highlighting support.

Q: Is Devart T4 Editor compatible with other add-ins and editors?

A: Yes, Devart T4 Editor is designed to be compatible with other add-ins and editors. You can use it alongside other tools and still enjoy the benefits of comprehensive intellisense and syntax highlighting.

Q: Can I get support for Devart T4 Editor?

A: Yes, Devart provides comprehensive support for Devart T4 Editor, including online documentation, tutorials, and customer support. You can also contact Devart directly for assistance with any issues you may encounter.

Q: Is Devart T4 Editor free?

A: No, Devart T4 Editor is a commercial product that requires a license to use. However, you can try the free trial version to see if it meets your needs before purchasing a license.

Conclusion

Devart T4 Editor is a powerful Visual Studio 2010 add-in that simplifies the process of working with T4 templates. With its comprehensive intellisense, syntax highlighting, Goto, include, outlining, editor customization, indenting, and code formatting features, you can improve your productivity and overall development experience. If you have any questions about Devart T4 Editor, we hope this Q&A article has provided you with the answers you need.