Multi-Language Add-In for Visual Studio

Posted by Phil on Thu 28 of Jan, 2010 09:30 GMT

Hi,

I'm not really sure whether you mean in the source code, or as properties of controls, so lets look at both.

In the source code

Suppose you have a function like this.

Private Sub TestFunction()
  
    Dim a As Object = Nothing
  
    a.SortExpress      = "Text"
    a.DataFormatString = "Text"
    a.Value            = "Text"

  End Sub

After scanning the project, they will appear in the grid like this:

To remove them from the grid you have to:

• mark the lines as hidden, by clicking on the sun symbol
• actually remove them from the grid by clicking on the moon/sunset symbol on the toolbar, so that it changes to a sun symbol (which is actually the pressed state).

Private Sub TestFunction()
  
    Dim a As Object = Nothing
  
    a.SortExpress      = "Text"        'MLHIDE
    a.DataFormatString = "Text"
    a.Value            = "Text"

  End Sub

Of course, you can add this comment yourself if you like. After rescanning the project, the line will be hidden.

If you have lots of lines like this, then you can use the function Filter using regular expressions to find them all. To use this function, you have to know only a very little about regular expressions.

You can start this function in several ways:

• via the tools menu on the toolbar
• via the context menu on the sun/moon symbol
• via the context menu on the checkbox

• Compare to string only
  In this mode it tries to match the text string (in inverted commas).
• Compare to source code line
  In this mode it tries to match the complete line in the source code.

To find the string .SortExpress you must enter \.SortExpress, because . is a special character in regular expressions.

The Action you want to choose is HIDE, which means that when it finds this the string, it will hide it (by adding the 'MLHIDE or //MLHIDE comment).

The dialog should now look something like this:

If you selected the option Prompted, then when it finds the string it will show it in the code editor and open the following dialog:

When you click on Yes it will add the MLHIDE comment and search for the next one. If you have a lot, then you will probably want to click on Yes to all. Checking the first few helps build your confidence, that the Add-In is doing the right thing.

When it is completed, you will have to click on the moon/sunset icon on the toolbar to actually remove the lines from the grid.

As properties of controls

If you are talking about the properties of controls, which have been set in the form (or ASP or WPF) designer window, then it is much easier.

Simply open the context menu on the sun/moon icon and select Hide property "SortExpress" everywhere.

(Here the property is called Text, but if you have a line in the grid with the property SortExpress, then it would be SortExpress.)

I hope that helps you (and maybe some others as well 😊)
Phil

Hello lucifertran,

• If you are referring too attributes of asp.net web controls tat show up in the markup than you can only target properties that have the attribute "Localizable" by going into settings->Web

By default the addon will condider all properties as localisable. This is the default I suggested to Phil since this produces few false positives in my *current* project. The default is debatable but it is best to start out with too much than too few.

• For Phil. I didn't know about the feature below

(I should read the manueal one day 😉 )

I am a bit reluctant to give it a try though. I "hide property Text everywhere" does it hide all properties called "Text" or does it only hde the Text property for the the class that is selected, for example TextBox.Text ? I don't know if you go as far as to understand the underlying type.

I think its only useful if it does it for the current Type which is the only sensible call the developer can make.

Assuming it realy does change all the properties with the name (as the text kindiff indicated 😊 )
Lets say that we have a property called P on class X and Y. If I choose to ignore P in the context of X the addon will also hide Y.P (can go undetected). Also, if I later introduce a calss Z with a peroperty called P will it then hide P as well (again confusing)

Regards, Tom