Visual C++ Add-In

Download: gzvcadin.zip (54KB)

Licence: Freeware

The Ground Zero Visual C++ Add-In adds a host of useful and time saving features to the Microsoft Visual C++ development environment. The add-in has been to developed to work with Microsoft Visual C++ version 6. To install the add-in, simply download gzvcadin.zip (above), unzip it into the directory of your choice and install it in your Visual C++ environment as follows:

• From the 'Tools' menu select the 'Customize' option

• Click on the 'Add-Ins and Macro Files' tab in the dialog box

• Click on the 'Browse' button and browse for the DLL you jut unzipped

• You will now see a new option in the list box entitled 'Ground Zero - Developer Studio Add-In'

• Make sure the check box next to this option is checked and click on the close button

• A new toolbar will now appear in your IDE. The guide below briefly explains the features and the buttons associated with each

SmartLoad

SmartLoad allows you to specify a list of directories which contain files you frequently view/edit in Visual Studio. When you click on SmartLoad you simply enter the name of the file you want to edit and SmartLoad scans the directories you have specified for the file(s). You can specify wild card file names and in the case where multiple files match the wild card specification, SmartLoad can be configured to either load the first file found, load all files or prompt you with a list of all the files found in the different directories which match the wildcard.

Smartload can also be configured to search all the subdirectories of any directory you specify

The SmartLoad feature is particularly useful for loading header files from common header directories (such as the VC include directory, Platform SDK etc..). The Add-In configuration dialog allows you to specify the list of directories the SmartLoad should scan for files. 

API Assistant

API Assistant provides you with useful information on APIs, structures and definitions from all the major Windows susbsytems including Win32, OLE, ADSI, Broadcast Architecture, CommCtrl, DirectX, MAPI, OLE, OpenGL, Sockets, TAPI and many more.

When you invoke API Assistant it takes the keyword under the cursor and provides information such as the header file and library file it is defined in along with the various Windows platforms which support the facility, Unicode availability and type (function, structure etc).

Toggle Source/Header

This toggles the current active file in Visual Studio editor between a C/C++ file and its corresponding header file.

Function Header

Inserts a comment header block above a function. The format of the header is defined in a file which can be selected from the Add-In configuration dialog. The comment can include macros, one of which will automatically insert the function name into the comment block if the cursor is on the line containing the function declaration when the "Function Header" feature is invoked.

File Header

Inserts a comment header at the top of the current file. The format of the header is defined in a file which can be selected from the Add-In configuration dialog. The comment can include macros such as file name, current date etc. which are automatically expanded when the comment is inserted.

Command Prompt

The Command Prompt feature opens a command prompt in the root directory directory of the current project. If no project is loaded then this does nothing. Brief fans can bind this commend to the Ctrl-Z key to emulate Briefs "DOS Shell" feature.

Explore

The Explore feature opens an Explorer view in the root directory of the current project.

Load Favorite File

This feature allows you to define a list of files you regularly edit, usually across all the projects you work on. With a single keystroke or button click, you can bring up this list and select a file from it to be loaded into the editor. This feature is useful for specifying common header files etc.. that you regularly work with.

Load Favorite Workspace

This feature allows you to specify a list of workspaces you regularly work with and allows you to switch between workspaces quickly and easily.

Configure Add-In

Allows you to configure all the settings for the Add-in.

Keyboard Bindings

For a description of binding keys to the features in the add-in, you should consult the readme.txt file included in the zip

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