VSX - set the initial position of ToolWindowPanes for docking

Question

I am creating a Visual Studio package that provides a tool window, and I am trying to make sure that it appears docked to the left edge of the main Visual Studio window when the package is loaded first.

[ProvideToolWindow(typeof(MyToolWindow), Orientation = ToolWindowOrientation.Left, Style=VsDockStyle.Linked, Window=EnvDTE.Constants.vsWindowKindLinkedWindowFrame)])] [ProvideToolWindowVisibility(typeof(MyToolWindow), VSConstants.UICONTEXT.NoSolution_string)] public class MyPackage : Package { ... 

I tried the many options above, but the best I managed to achieve was to attach the window to the base - and even then it continues to reinstall every time the package is reloaded, and the position of the user window is not saved.

How can I indicate that my window pane is initially docked to the left of the main window?

Answer 1

Setting items as VsDockStyle.Tabbed is supported, so you can connect to the toolbar tool window. But I assume that you have already thought about this, and this is not appropriate for your situation.

Although this is not a good solution, you can try a workaround.

• Configure ProvideToolWindow with the Orientation and Window you want, but set the style for Float, since Linked is not supported (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.visualstudio.shell.vsdockstyle.aspx):

   [ProvideToolWindow(typeof(MyToolWindow), Style = VsDockStyle.Float, Orientation = ToolWindowOrientation.Left, Window = EnvDTE.Constants.vsWindowKindMainWindow)] 

• At runtime, pin the tool window if you find it in a floating state:

   /// <summary> /// Docks the specified frame window if it is currently floating. /// </summary> /// <remarks> /// Works in VS2010, does not appear to work in VS2008. /// </remarks> /// <param name="frame">The frame.</param> private static void DockWindowIfFloating(IVsWindowFrame frame) { // Get the current tool window frame mode. object currentFrameMode; frame.GetProperty((int)__VSFPROPID.VSFPROPID_FrameMode, out currentFrameMode); // If currently floating, switch to dock mode. if ((VSFRAMEMODE)currentFrameMode == VSFRAMEMODE.VSFM_Float) { frame.SetProperty((int)__VSFPROPID.VSFPROPID_FrameMode, VSFRAMEMODE.VSFM_Dock); } } 

As I noticed in the comments - this seems to work only for VS2010 (and not VS2008).

Hope this helps, hacking as it is.

Answer 2

If you want it to dock at the bottom by default with other windows, such as the Output Window, Error List, Search Results, etc., you can do this as follows:

 [ProvideToolWindow(typeof(ThePane), Orientation=ToolWindowOrientation.Right, Window=EnvDTE.Constants.vsWindowKindOutput, Style=VsDockStyle.Tabbed)] 

Orientation does not seem to matter, but it always seems to the left. But close enough for me.

Answer 3

I don't know if this works, but you can try:

I looked in the registry for a hint where the SolutionExplorer toolbar is located and that the Window parameter contains "DocumentWell"

So you can try the following:

 [ProvideToolWindow(typeof(MyToolWindow), Orientation = ToolWindowOrientation.Right, Style=VsDockStyle.Tabbed, Window="DocumentWell")])] 

or

 Window=EnvDTE.Constants.vsWindowKindMainWindow 

Hope this helps,

Thomas.

Answer 4

 // Replace EnvDTE.Constants.vsWindowKindSolutionExplorer with the GUID you need. [ProvideToolWindow(typeof(IssuesWindow), Style = VsDockStyle.Tabbed, Window = EnvDTE.Constants.vsWindowKindSolutionExplorer)] 

This works fine in Visual Studio 2015. Tested in a virtual machine.

However, there is a limitation : The tool window only docked the first time the IDE starts with your extension. This is easy to verify using a virtual machine, as you are simply restoring the previous state. I assume that some registry value is written, and Visual Studio rather remembers the previous position of your tool window the next time, and does not use the default values ​​that you just specified above.

If someone wants, I think they could compare before / after the registry version and find these set values ​​and reset them manually next time / on demand.