Document Outline feature for .JS files in VS 2005

[Kamagurka]

In VS 2003 one could easily retrieve a (sortable) navigation list of available functions in a .js library when it was opened in the IDE in the 'Document Outline' window. This very handy (imagine large .js libraries) functionality seems to have gone or I can't find the equivalent feature in VS 2005. I'm no doubt the only one who's searched for this invain, any suggestions/advise anybody? Webber

[Kevin McFarlane]

Hmmm. Well, I get the Document Outline Window but it permanently displays "There are no items to show for the selected document" :confused: I too used to find it useful in VS 2003.

Kevin

[Kevin McFarlane]

Follow up to my first reply - I didn't realise Doc Outline was available for Win Forms as well. Quite handy.:)

Kevin

[Kamagurka]

I've now contacted Microsoft and they admitted to have deliberately left the Document Outline for .JS files out of Visual Studio 2005. They advised me to open these libraries with the HTML editor window instead and navigate through the functions using the client script from the top lefthand dropdown. I've tried it but my Visual Studio IDE just crashes.:mad: I'm still chasing Microsoft to get this resolved. ... TO BE CONTINUED ...

[Kevin McFarlane]

Aha, another one of their usability regressions. :mad: There are a few of them in VS 2005, even though, overall, VS 2005 is still better than VS 2003.

Kamagurka wrote:

I've tried it but my Visual Studio IDE just crashes.

My VS 2005 has been crashing recently in scenarios where I close a Website project and open another Website or non-Website project. IIRC from VS 2003 the client script dropdown was nowhere near as good. BTW, the Client Script dropdown doesn't appear for pure JS files (unless there's an option I can't find). Is all your JS in HTML pages?

Kevin

[Kamagurka]

No they are pure text files with the .js extension. VS 2005 shows the client script dropdown when the .js file is 'opened with' the html editor. To get to it one goes to the solution explorer and hit right click on the library file, select html editor instead of script editor (default) from the 'open with - ' dialog window. This then opens the file and this windows has an extra top bar with the two familiar drop downs. On the righthand-side the events dropdown, and on the lefthand-side the dropdown shows two options. The first option is 'Client objects & Events' and the second option is 'Client script' it's when selecting the client script option that I get 'Microsoft Visual Studio has encountered a problem and needs to close' :( kamagurka

[Kevin McFarlane]

Just tried it. I get a dialog saying something like: Runtime error - abnormal program error, and then it shuts down. Looks like we have a bug. Are you running VS 2005 SP1? I guess not many developers use this option, which is why it's buggy.

Kevin

[Kamagurka]

Yep, VS 2005 [Professional version] with SP1. I'm logging a [MSDN subscriber] support call for this to Microsoft. I will post the outcome (patch?) here. Kamagurka

[Kevin McFarlane]

Cheers! I wonder whether there will be any further updates to VS 2005 before Orcas though? Since the .NET IDEs it seems to be a single SP only for each version. Whereas was it 5 or 6 SPs for VS 6?

Kevin