Using CTRL + ALT + Down Arrow to Open the File Menu Dropdown List

MSDN Blogs > The Ultimate Visual Studio Tips and Tricks Blog > Using CTRL + ALT + Down Arrow to Open the File Menu Dropdown List
Tips Search

Using CTRL + ALT + Down Arrow to Open the File Menu Dropdown List

21 Feb 2010 1:00 AM
  • Comments 4

Keyboard:  CTRL + ALT + Down Arrow
Command:  Window.ShowEzMDIFileList
Versions:  2008,2010
Published:  2/21/2010
Code:  vstipEnv0003

 

When you have a lot of files in the File Tab it is sometimes easier to view them as a list.  The File Menu Dropdown List will do that for you.  It's the dropdown to the far right on the File Tab that you can click on or you can simply use CTRL + ALT + Down Arrow to activate it.

image

 

An interesting thing about this list is that it has type-ahead functionality.  So, in this example, if I type the letter "S" it will automatically select "SomethingToDo.cs".  Hitting "S" again results in "Start Page" being selected.  If you have a LOT of files you can type more to narrow down the selection (i.e. typing "ST" will jump to "Start Page").

, , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments
  • John
    21 Feb 2010 1:08 AM

    That is amazing.

    Thanks for the tip :p

  • MarcT
    22 Feb 2010 4:22 PM

    Is there any way to tear this list off and dock it? I've been asking about that since 2005 was in beta, and have yet to find it anywhere in VS2010...

    Having this list appear on hover, with a bigger target than the tiny drop-down arrow, would be almost as good.

  • 23 Feb 2010 3:14 AM

    MarcT,

    Not that I am aware of although a couple of quick keystrokes are pretty close when you are moving fast.  I actually prefer the ALT + W, [some number] combo when I am working.

    Z

  • MarcT
    23 Feb 2010 7:40 PM

    That's a good one. I usually end up using Ctrl + / to get to the Find box with the caret pre-populated, then typing "of" which I have aliased to "File.OpenFile" and then the name of the file I'm looking for, which filters the suggestion box as I type.

    But sometimes I've already got my hand on the mouse, and a single click is always better than two.

Page 1 of 1 (4 items)
Leave a Comment
  • Please add 5 and 4 and type the answer here:
  • Post
Options