Visual Studio Hacks

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Chapter 2, Master the Editor

#6 Master the Clipboard

HACK

allow you to copy or delete the current line by simply pressing the shortcut

keys without selecting any text. Any time you can avoid reaching for the

mouse to select text is time saved.

Block Selection

Normal text selection is done on a line-by-line basis; it is impossible to select

parts of multiple lines with normal text selection. Figure 2-2 shows how it is

not possible to select just the right side of the equals sign using normal text

selection. This is a drawback that most of us have become accustomed to.

Visual Studio has a feature that allows you to get around this limitation. By

holding the Alt key while selecting text, you trigger block selection, which

allows you to select text regardless of what line it is on. Figure 2-3 shows

how block selection can be used to select only text to the right of the equals

sign.

Block selection can be used to select any amount of text in a block, as

opposed to line by line. You can use block selection whether you select text

with the mouse or the keyboard (hold down Alt and Shift, and press the

arrow keys to perform a block selection with the keyboard).

When pasting block selections, Visual Studio will insert each line of the

block onto a subsequent existing line, unlike normal selections where new

lines will be inserted. Thus, it is important to be sure that the destination for

your block selection ...