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Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

In 7.0 and later you can simply and quickly open files by going to the Find combo in the toolbar, and type

>open c:\goo\bar.cpp

The pathname will even auto-complete as you type! Even the command name (“open“ in this case) will auto-complete. You will probably find other handy commands in there by experimenting.

Published Wednesday, March 03, 2004 5:27 PM by andypennell

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Wednesday, March 03, 2004 10:33 PM by Dennis Doomen

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

I suppose you are referring to the Command Window? Because in my 7.0, nothing happens when I type that phrase in the Find combo.

Regards,

Dennis
Thursday, March 04, 2004 6:23 AM by Fabrice's weblog

# Visual Studio easter eggs

Thursday, March 04, 2004 3:24 AM by Fabrice

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

Dennis, make sure you typed in the > before open.
Thursday, March 04, 2004 3:36 AM by Ryan Heath

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

Nice feature!
Guess i'll use ctrl+D more often now :)
Thursday, March 04, 2004 5:16 AM by Thomas Martinsen

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

You get an error if the filename contain spaces :(
Thursday, March 04, 2004 6:15 AM by Fabrice

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

Thomas, it works fine with VS 2003. Quotes get added automagically.
Thursday, March 04, 2004 12:49 PM by Andy Pennell

# VC6 equivalent

Thought I generally dont like to recommend old products, VC6 has a simpler version. In the Find edit control, type a filename then press Ctrl-Alt-G to open the file. You don't get auto completion. This is the FileGoTo command if you want to customize the keystroke.
Thursday, March 04, 2004 9:55 PM by Bradley Grainger

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

If you're opening a file that is part of the solution, press Ctrl+D, type the filename (no path needed), then press Ctrl+Shift+G. Very handy if you have hundreds of uniquely-named files spread across dozens of folders in the one solution.
Friday, March 05, 2004 2:35 PM by John Wood

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

Isn't it quicker to simply press Ctrl+O and then type in the filename? Seems like fewer keystrokes to me :)
Tuesday, March 09, 2004 6:43 AM by Fabrice

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

Wow, John! You're absolutely right! This is the best discovery I ever heard of! :))
Thursday, April 22, 2004 5:58 AM by Daniel

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

The nice thing of Ctrl+Shift+G in VC6 is, that it even works in the text editor if the cursor is above a filename/path (either quoted by "" or by <>).

Any idea how to get this back in VC.NET?
Friday, November 16, 2007 3:48 PM by Waqqas Farooq

# re: Quick way to open files in Visual Studio IDE

alternative (if you don't like typing 'open'):

1. ctrl + d

2. >of myfile.txt

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