Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. Need free VS tool which generates code documentation for me!

Need free VS tool which generates code documentation for me!

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
visual-studio
37 Posts 18 Posters 1 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • J Jo_vb net

    Can you please suggest me a free VS tool which generates code documentation like that:

        /// /// Called to calc a bid
        /// 
        /// 
        /// 
        /// iRatedBid\[player\]
        private int CalcBid(HandCards hand, int player)
    
    L Offline
    L Offline
    Lost User
    wrote on last edited by
    #7

    Have you tried the compiler option: /doc (Process Documentation Comments) (C/C++) | Microsoft Learn[^] ?

    J M 2 Replies Last reply
    0
    • L Lost User

      Have you tried the compiler option: /doc (Process Documentation Comments) (C/C++) | Microsoft Learn[^] ?

      J Offline
      J Offline
      Jo_vb net
      wrote on last edited by
      #8

      No I did not, because I was not aware of it. Thank will try it.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • J Jo_vb net

        Can you please suggest me a free VS tool which generates code documentation like that:

            /// /// Called to calc a bid
            /// 
            /// 
            /// 
            /// iRatedBid\[player\]
            private int CalcBid(HandCards hand, int player)
        
        0 Offline
        0 Offline
        0x01AA
        wrote on last edited by
        #9

        This is not code documentation, these are just unnecessary comments ;P :laugh:

        D T 2 Replies Last reply
        0
        • L Lost User

          Have you tried the compiler option: /doc (Process Documentation Comments) (C/C++) | Microsoft Learn[^] ?

          M Offline
          M Offline
          Maximilien
          wrote on last edited by
          #10

          this processes existing comments. it does not create the comments themselves.

          CI/CD = Continuous Impediment/Continuous Despair

          L 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • 0 0x01AA

            This is not code documentation, these are just unnecessary comments ;P :laugh:

            D Offline
            D Offline
            den2k88
            wrote on last edited by
            #11

            Extremely necessary if you want your SPICE or ASPICE certification.

            GCS/GE d--(d) s-/+ a C+++ U+++ P-- L+@ E-- W+++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++*      Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X The shortest horror story: On Error Resume Next

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • M Maximilien

              this processes existing comments. it does not create the comments themselves.

              CI/CD = Continuous Impediment/Continuous Despair

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Lost User
              wrote on last edited by
              #12

              Of course it does, it needs the comments to convert them to document format. Which is what the OP asked for in his question.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • 0 0x01AA

                This is not code documentation, these are just unnecessary comments ;P :laugh:

                T Offline
                T Offline
                TNCaver
                wrote on last edited by
                #13

                If those comments/methods are in a class library those comments could be very helpful to folks using that library.

                There are no solutions, only trade-offs.
                   - Thomas Sowell

                A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.
                   - Calvin (Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes)

                L J 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • J Jo_vb net

                  Can you please suggest me a free VS tool which generates code documentation like that:

                      /// /// Called to calc a bid
                      /// 
                      /// 
                      /// 
                      /// iRatedBid\[player\]
                      private int CalcBid(HandCards hand, int player)
                  
                  M Offline
                  M Offline
                  Malte Klena
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #14

                  Sandcastle: SHFB

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • T TNCaver

                    If those comments/methods are in a class library those comments could be very helpful to folks using that library.

                    There are no solutions, only trade-offs.
                       - Thomas Sowell

                    A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.
                       - Calvin (Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes)

                    L Offline
                    L Offline
                    lmoelleb
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #15

                    The autogenerated comments will just tell you what you already see from the name and types. Documentation is for the things you can't see directly. Personally my preferce is not having the autogenerated comment, then you do not need to waste time finding out if it tells you anything or not.

                    T 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • J Jo_vb net

                      Can you please suggest me a free VS tool which generates code documentation like that:

                          /// /// Called to calc a bid
                          /// 
                          /// 
                          /// 
                          /// iRatedBid\[player\]
                          private int CalcBid(HandCards hand, int player)
                      
                      R Offline
                      R Offline
                      Ravi Bhavnani
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #16

                      Doesn't triple clicking "/" in VS generate the comment block? /ravi

                      My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • J Jo_vb net

                        Thank you. Looks good but does not catch my return value?

                        /// Gets the hand trump cards.
                        /// The trump card identifier.
                        /// ///     
                        /// 
                        public List GetHandTrumpCards(int TrumpCardID)
                        {
                            var lopc = new List();
                        
                            foreach (PlayingCard card in Cards)
                            {
                                if ((int)card.CardType == TrumpCardID | (int)card.CardValue == 2 | (int)card.CardValue == 3)
                                {
                                    lopc.Add(card);
                                }
                            }
                        
                            return lopc;
                        }
                        
                        T Offline
                        T Offline
                        trønderen
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #17

                        The return value is not uniquely named. A method may have several return statements, and the values may be expressions, possibly different expression for each of several returns. The tool could of course create a list of all return statements. The same that you can obtain by a string search. I am not sure how useful that would be.

                        Religious freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make five.

                        J 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • T trønderen

                          The return value is not uniquely named. A method may have several return statements, and the values may be expressions, possibly different expression for each of several returns. The tool could of course create a list of all return statements. The same that you can obtain by a string search. I am not sure how useful that would be.

                          Religious freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make five.

                          J Offline
                          J Offline
                          Jo_vb net
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #18

                          Do you say it works only for return value;

                          T 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • L lmoelleb

                            The autogenerated comments will just tell you what you already see from the name and types. Documentation is for the things you can't see directly. Personally my preferce is not having the autogenerated comment, then you do not need to waste time finding out if it tells you anything or not.

                            T Offline
                            T Offline
                            trønderen
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #19

                            I took this to be a framework for filling in you more descriptive comments, such as Set of cards currently held by 'bidder' (I can imagine even more helpful explanations that this, especially if I knew more of the context.) Without any explanation, just formatting the method prototype in a different layout, is meaningless.

                            Religious freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make five.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • J Jo_vb net

                              Do you say it works only for return value;

                              T Offline
                              T Offline
                              trønderen
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #20

                              I never used this tool, but OP presents an example where it doesn't catch his 'return lopc;', leaving only

                              /// ///
                              ///

                              in the 'documentation'. I am one of those who likes to get out of here as soon as the job is done; I detest the 'single exit point' style that could increase the block nesting level by half a dozen or more. In other words: Some methods can have half a dozen or more return statements. You might want to have them all listed above the method prototype; I think it messes it up. With several exits, the reason for leading to that exit is frequently far more essential than the exit value - especially if it is in the class of 'success' or 'failure'! Seeing four 'return failure' and two 'return success' in the documentation is not really informative. Seeing 'return lopc' makes very little sense until you have studied the actual code, seeing how lopc is built, but then you hardly need the documentation telling that lopc is returned! If you use the template for filling in a brief explanation of what it takes to succeed, or in this case, what is the semantics of the subset of cards returned: Fine. I assume it applies to all the return statements, if there are several. Also, those insisting on 'single exit point' must refrain from coding any exception that might propagate out of the method. That would be an exit not through that 'single exit point', so trusting that you can catch everything immediately before your single 'return' is fooling yourself.

                              Religious freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make five.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • J Jo_vb net

                                Can you please suggest me a free VS tool which generates code documentation like that:

                                    /// /// Called to calc a bid
                                    /// 
                                    /// 
                                    /// 
                                    /// iRatedBid\[player\]
                                    private int CalcBid(HandCards hand, int player)
                                
                                Graeme_GrantG Offline
                                Graeme_GrantG Offline
                                Graeme_Grant
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #21

                                I tend to do my comments by hand. In VS, if you type /// it usually does the framework for you, including params and return types. Here is a handy reference for the recommendations and also XML tags: Documentation comments - document APIs using /// comments - C# | Microsoft Learn[^]. The link also includes Tools that accept XML documentation input[^] for generating documentation.

                                Graeme


                                "I fear not the man who has practiced ten thousand kicks one time, but I fear the man that has practiced one kick ten thousand times!" - Bruce Lee

                                J 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • Graeme_GrantG Graeme_Grant

                                  I tend to do my comments by hand. In VS, if you type /// it usually does the framework for you, including params and return types. Here is a handy reference for the recommendations and also XML tags: Documentation comments - document APIs using /// comments - C# | Microsoft Learn[^]. The link also includes Tools that accept XML documentation input[^] for generating documentation.

                                  Graeme


                                  "I fear not the man who has practiced ten thousand kicks one time, but I fear the man that has practiced one kick ten thousand times!" - Bruce Lee

                                  J Offline
                                  J Offline
                                  Jo_vb net
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #22

                                  VS refuses return info as well for me. And comment "Nons the trump cards." is pointless.

                                      /// /// Nons the trump cards.
                                      /// 
                                      /// The hand.
                                      /// The trump identifier.
                                      /// 
                                      public static string NonTrumpCards(HandCards hand, int TrumpID)
                                      {
                                  
                                          return hand.GetHandExTrumpString(TrumpID);
                                  
                                      }
                                  
                                  Graeme_GrantG P 2 Replies Last reply
                                  0
                                  • J Jo_vb net

                                    VS refuses return info as well for me. And comment "Nons the trump cards." is pointless.

                                        /// /// Nons the trump cards.
                                        /// 
                                        /// The hand.
                                        /// The trump identifier.
                                        /// 
                                        public static string NonTrumpCards(HandCards hand, int TrumpID)
                                        {
                                    
                                            return hand.GetHandExTrumpString(TrumpID);
                                    
                                        }
                                    
                                    Graeme_GrantG Offline
                                    Graeme_GrantG Offline
                                    Graeme_Grant
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #23

                                    Hmmm... Try this extension: Extended XML Doc Comments Provider (VS2022+) - Visual Studio Marketplace[^]

                                    Graeme


                                    "I fear not the man who has practiced ten thousand kicks one time, but I fear the man that has practiced one kick ten thousand times!" - Bruce Lee

                                    J 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • J Jo_vb net

                                      VS refuses return info as well for me. And comment "Nons the trump cards." is pointless.

                                          /// /// Nons the trump cards.
                                          /// 
                                          /// The hand.
                                          /// The trump identifier.
                                          /// 
                                          public static string NonTrumpCards(HandCards hand, int TrumpID)
                                          {
                                      
                                              return hand.GetHandExTrumpString(TrumpID);
                                      
                                          }
                                      
                                      P Offline
                                      P Offline
                                      Peter Adam
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #24

                                      >And comment "Nons the trump cards." is pointless. Not necessarily. Change the XML comment style to font color red, bold, and voila, you can scroll through your code with all information needed visible in the same place, same style. Side note: My Delphi 7 maintenance mode has three colors, bold red for comments, bold green for strings and bold/normal gray for the rest, on black background. It is perfect to find where to modify the code.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • J Jo_vb net

                                        Can you please suggest me a free VS tool which generates code documentation like that:

                                            /// /// Called to calc a bid
                                            /// 
                                            /// 
                                            /// 
                                            /// iRatedBid\[player\]
                                            private int CalcBid(HandCards hand, int player)
                                        
                                        D Offline
                                        D Offline
                                        Davyd McColl
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #25

                                        From reading the question and replies to which the OP has also replied, I understand that the OP wants a tool to generate the xmldoc example given. And the only question I have is what value this "documentation" has? It tells you nothing you couldn't already glean from the signature. It's "documentation" like this which drives the "no comments" movement - because this is just more reading material for the consumer - it does absolutely nothing to explain the _why_ or the methodology of the decorated function. It will rot because it's been noise ever since it was introduced, so at some point, it won't tell you something obvious - it will just be a source of "WAT?!" for the reader. I'm incredibly dismayed at people looking for tools to do this and write their unit tests for them. Are we even craftspeople any more? Do you consider yourself a creator, or a button-pusher?

                                        ------------------------------------------------ If you say that getting the money is the most important thing You will spend your life completely wasting your time You will be doing things you don't like doing In order to go on living That is, to go on doing things you don't like doing Which is stupid. - Alan Watts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gXTZM\_uPMY

                                        T 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • D Davyd McColl

                                          From reading the question and replies to which the OP has also replied, I understand that the OP wants a tool to generate the xmldoc example given. And the only question I have is what value this "documentation" has? It tells you nothing you couldn't already glean from the signature. It's "documentation" like this which drives the "no comments" movement - because this is just more reading material for the consumer - it does absolutely nothing to explain the _why_ or the methodology of the decorated function. It will rot because it's been noise ever since it was introduced, so at some point, it won't tell you something obvious - it will just be a source of "WAT?!" for the reader. I'm incredibly dismayed at people looking for tools to do this and write their unit tests for them. Are we even craftspeople any more? Do you consider yourself a creator, or a button-pusher?

                                          ------------------------------------------------ If you say that getting the money is the most important thing You will spend your life completely wasting your time You will be doing things you don't like doing In order to go on living That is, to go on doing things you don't like doing Which is stupid. - Alan Watts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gXTZM\_uPMY

                                          T Offline
                                          T Offline
                                          trønderen
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #26

                                          Davyd McColl wrote:

                                          And the only question I have is what value this "documentation" has?

                                          Maybe a formal requirement?

                                          den2k88 wrote:

                                          Extremely necessary if you want your SPICE or ASPICE certification.

                                          I have been working under coding standard regimes requiring the arguments to be repeated ("prepeated"?) above the function declaration in a formal syntax, regardless of certifications. Mostly it has been so that if anyone asks for documentation of the source code, the company can proudly present a huge PDF document, split into main sections for each namespace, main chapters for the classes and sometimes each method has been given a separate page for describing its invocation interface and arguments. All is automatically generated from the formatted comments. It is useful for nothing except that it allows you to state, without lying: "Of course we maintain full documentation of the source code".

                                          Religious freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make five.

                                          D 1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups