Visual InterDev

VID (Visual InterDev) is Microsoft's IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for working on web application files like .asp, .htm, and .css. FrontPage is intended for non-programming intensive site files whereas VID is intended for programming intensive site files.

• Shortcuts
• Set Up
• Miscellany

Shortcuts

Here are a few of my favorite VID shortcuts:

CTRL+U

Make lowercase.

SHIFT+CTRL+U

Make uppercase.

CTRL+R then CTRL+W

View/Unview whitespace.

CTRL+Q

Tabify selection

SHIFT+CTRL+Q

Untabify selection.

ALT+SHIFT+T

Switch the current line with the next.

Set Up

Here are basic terms used in VID:

• A solution will have a solution definition file (.sln) which locates one or more projects. VID can only have one solution open at a time. You can however have multiple instances of VID open if you want to work on solutions simultaneously.
• A project will have a project definition file (.vip)  locates the root directory of a web application.
  • A VID project in Master Mode means that saves on your local copy are simultaneously saved to the master copy.
  • A VID project in Local Mode means that saves on your local copy are not done to the master copy until uploaded (released) as needed. Individual files or the whole web app can be released.
  • Project icons will vary depending on the type of project. A project might be a web app, a database connection, an applet, etc. The project icon itself will have little modifier icons:
    • A little lightning modifier indicates a project in Master Mode.
      • If the icon also has a solid lock modifier, then the project has not been checked out from source control.
      • If the icon also has a red check modifier, then the project has checked out from source.
    • A little stack of papers modifier indicates a project in Local Mode.
      • If the icon also has a solid blue lock modifier, then the project has not been checked out from source control.
      • If the icon also has a red check modifier, then the project has checked out from source.
• A web application will have a web application file (Global.asa) which sets application and session scope script. A web application is a root directory on a web server and whatever directories and web application files it may contain.
• Web application files (.htm, .asp, .gif, .jpg, .xml, etc.) make up the bulk of a particular web application.
  • Web application file icons will vary depending on the type of web application file. The web application file icon itself will have little modifier icons:
    • A outlined lock modifier indicates that the web application file is a local file, ie a read-only copy of what is on the master project.
      • If the modifier is a solid lock, then the file is also not checked out of source control.
    • A pencil modifier indicates that the web application file is a working file, ie a write-enabled copy of what is on the master project.
      • If the modifier is a red check, then the file is also checked out of source control.
    • A little flag modifier indicates that the web application file is a personal file, ie a write-enabled file not found on the master project.
      • A personal file is does not participate in source control.
    • A file icon that has been grayed out indicates that the web application file is a master file, ie the file exists on the master app but has not been copied locally and is therefore read-only. Right-click and select Get Latest Version to make it a local file.
      • If the icon also has a modifier icon of a solid lock, then the project has not been checked out from source control.
  • To access web application files:
    1. Open VID.
    2. Make up a name for this project. Projects can point to the same or different web applications.
    3. Select the location of where the local copies of the web app will be.
    4. Select the server and decide whether you are working in Master or Local Mode. Whether you are working on a project in Master or Local Mode, a directory with local copies of the master (live production) project files will be the first thing you specify when setting up the project
    5. Create a new web app or select an existing web app.
       • A new web app will create a new directory on the server for the new web app.
       • An existing web app is either the <Root Web> of that server or a previously created web app on that server.
  • Web files (.htm, .asp, .gif, .jpg, .xml, etc.) may or may not be part of a particular web application. To access web files:
    1. Open VID.
    2. Cancel out of the option to open or make a project.
    3. Open a file or create a new file. A fake solution (usu. Solution1) will be created and can be ignored because if you save the solution, and open it up later, it doesn't remember what files you were working on.

Note that in actuality VID projects and solutions create a slew of other files (eg .vip, .suo, etc.) that help VID specify directories and files involved.

There is also the option to work offline. You cannot restructure the site, rename files, or move files.

• To work offline with web application files, go the Project menu, choose Web Project, choose Working Mode, and then chose Work Offline.
• To work offline with web files, copy them to a local directory.

Local copies and live production (master) files must be synced.

• To compare one specified file:
  • Select the file, right-click, and choose Compare to Master Web.
    • Applicable in Master Mode if you haven't saved your changes yet.
    • Applicable in Local Mode if you haven't released your working copy yet.
• To discard changes for one or more specified files on the local app: Select the files, right-click, and choose Discard Changes.
• Updating the Master files with Local files:
  • To update one or more specified files on the Master app:
    • Select the files, right-click, and choose Release Working Copy.
      • If another party made changes since you acquired your local copy, you will be given the opportunity to merge the changes.
  • To update the project on the Master app:
    1. Select the project in Project Explorer.
    2. From Project menu, select Web Files, choose Release Working Copy.
       • If another party made changes since you acquired your local copy, you will be given the opportunity to merge the changes.
• Getting the correct Master files:
  • To get the newest file versions from the Master of Local read only files:
    1. Select the project in Project Explorer.
    2. From Project menu, select Web Project, choose Synchronize Files .
  • To get the newest file versions from the Master of Local write enabled files:
    1. Select the project or files in Project Explorer.
    2. From Project menu, select Web Files, choose Get Latest Version .
  • To get the file list and structure (of both Master and Local files):
    1. Select the project in Project Explorer.
    2. From Project menu, select Web Project, choose Refresh Project View .

Miscellany

If you are working with a .js include, VID does lousy color coding (everything is colored black). If you give the file a .htm extension and you put a //<script> at the top of the file, then the color coding will be correct. EG: Comments will display as green.

Page Modified: (Hand noted: 2007-09-13 16:52:05Z) (Auto noted: 2007-11-17 06:39:29Z)