VSPred.dll Add-in

VSPred is a Microsoft™ Visual Studio add-in that allows PrEditor to be integrated as the default editor. When you open a text file from Visual Studio (by double-clicking on the file, or pressing F4 to jump to compilation errors), then PrEditor will be used instead of Visual Studio's own built-in editor.

The file can be optionally opened exclusively in PrEditor, or additionally to Visual Studio's own editor. This option can be set in the VSPred configuration dialog within Visual Studio.

Installation

  1. Close running instances of DevStudio.
  2. Unzip VSPred.dll into a convenient directory like the PrEditor install directory (usually c:\Program Files\Thistle Software\PrEditor) or a sub-directory under it like Add-ins
  3. Start Visual Studio and navigate to the Add-ins dialog box (Tools -> Customize -> Add-Ins and Macro Files).
  4. Browse to the directory where you put VSPred.dll and select it (you'll need to show the 'Add-ins' file types).
  5. Make sure that the VSPred check-box is checked, then close the dialog.
  6. You should see a new toolbar with the PrEditor icons on it.

Customising VSPred

You can customize the VSPred toolbar itself or add the VSPred buttons to other toolbars. You can also add shortcuts to have files opened in PrEditor at the press of a button. To do this...

  1. Open the Customize dialog (Tools -> Customize) and go to the Keyboard tab.
  2. Select Add-ins in the Category drop-down. You should see the following commands...
    VSPredDialogCmd Displays the settings dialog (same as clicking the button with the cog on it).
    VSPredDisableCmd Disables VSPred (same as clicking the button with the cross on it).
    VSPredEnableCmd Enables VSPred (same as clicking the button with the tick on it).
    VSPredOpenDocumentCmd Opens the current document in PrEditor (same as clicking the button with no special marks on it).
    VSPredToggleCmd Toggles the Enable / Disable setting of VSPred (same as clicking the button with two-headed arrow).
  3. Assign keys to each desired command. I find it useful to have VSPredOpenDocument assigned to Ctrl-Shift-P.

Using VSPred

The VSPred toolbar has icons with the following functions...

VSPred settings dialog

Open in DevStudio as well Check this to have DevStudio open the file in both PrEditor and its own built-in editor.
Start enabled VSPred is enabled whenever Visual Studio is started.
Start disabled VSPred is disabled whenever Visual Studio is started.
Same as last time VSPred remembers the setting from the previous Visual Studio session.