Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

re: Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

chris — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:54:54 GMT

I'm sorry but this isn't much of a tip. However, it is nice to know that multi-monitor support will be added in 2010.

re: Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

Matthew Adams — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:58:32 GMT

If you're debugging anything to do with a repaint, it is a great idea to have a window layout with all your debug windows on one monitor, and the application running on a second, completely other-application-free monitor, to avoid unnecessary redraws triggered by the switch to/from VS.

re: Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

Catto — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:48:27 GMT

Hey Now Sara,

I can't believe I never tried to steach my VS over two monitors. Often us of VS on one monitor & SQL Server or IE on the other.

That is a great tip to use VS on multi monitors.

Thx 4 the info,

Catto

re: Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

David Nguyen — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:07:10 GMT

The UltraMon tool can stretch the IDE across all monitors quite nice. I combine it with the Vertical Split feature to get a cool layout.

re: Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

larmccoy — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:43:49 GMT

I used to use multiple monitors with VS2005 and VS2008. However, since I've "upgraded" to a new quad-core machine with Vista 64 Business, I've found that VS2008 crashes after I have moved any VS-related window into the second monitor. I've tried moving just tool windows and even stretching the entire VS window into the second monitor. In either case, I eventually get a crash (usually after I stop a debugging session). Frankly, I was initially puzzled as to why VS was crashing, until I found a bug report reported for VS2005 that was related to multiple monitors. Since I've stopped moving VS stuff into the second monitor I have not seen a single crash by Visual Studio. I hope VS2010 fixes this...

re: Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

Jeff Odell — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:42:34 GMT

larmccoy - I have this problem too - reported it through a couple different avenues - invluding sending detailled dumps - but it has not been fixed.

I think it is a problem with certain video drivers and not others. For example, with 2005 I had the problem at a customer site until we upgraded their video drivers. Then the problem disappeared.

Unfortunately, with 2008 and my laptop, the problem is back and I have the absolute latest drivers.

It seems to just be luck!

re: Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

Geminorus — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:03:39 GMT

larmccoy, I have discovered a bug in Visual Studio 2008 where if you dock several tool windows together regardless of multi-monitor, VS will crash. I have the bug reported here in more detail: https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=376251

Microsoft left a comment saying it will be fixed in the next VS release (VS2010).

re: Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

Mafu Josh — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:41:39 GMT

I personally use the "Viewing Debugging Tool Windows on secondary monitor" method, with one difference:

I keep all of the debugging tool windows in the main window like it is normally, except when the Full Screen button is pressed, then the debugging windows move to a floating window on the 2nd monitor. So all you have to do is click "Full Screen" to turn it on or off on the 2nd monitor.

re: Did you know… How to optimize Visual Studio for multi-monitors? - #381

Nick Williams — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:40:23 GMT

I use three monitors: left one for the app running/documentation/foobar/etc, middle one for the code window/menu/toolbars, the right for tool windows (docked to each other as a single large window).

When stretching across monitors, sure, you can move the toolbar but I've yet to find any way to move the menu along with it.

I have never found document splitting to be useful beyond a design/source split-view for an html document. I can't imagine a situation that I'd be consulting a file in my own solution while concurrently editing another file of my own solution. Far more common is consulting MSDN in FF or an external project contained in a separate instance of VS and thus on a different monitor to begin with.

One improvement would be independent focus for given windows. I only find VS useful when it's taking up 2 monitors, never 3 or else debugging gets in the way of the app's interface when focus is given to VS. It would be nice to be able to give focus to my code window and have another application sitting on top of my tool windows or similar. If you're dealing with winforms you could set the window style to keep it above, but that's not acceptable when dealing with web projects as the browser is open even when not debugging.

I would say VS2008 is about as multi-monitor friendly as it can get. I just hope they don't and screw things up in VS2010.