General, HTML, Text Editor, Options Dialog Box

Article
09/30/2015

This dialog box allows you to change the default behavior of the Source view editor while you are working with HTML markup.

To access this dialog box

In Microsoft Visual Web Developer, click Tools, and then click Options.

The Options dialog box opens.
In the left panel, expand the Text Editor node, expand the HTML node, and click General.

If you have configured your environment settings for Web development, the elements of this node are not available unless you select the Show all settings check box. For more information about environment settings, see .ec70b520-a3e3-43c9-929b-bdc732cd2147

Note

Additional HTML options can be found under the HTML Designer node, which is visible if the Show all settings check box is selected.

For more information about formatting HTML, see NIB: Formatting Elements in the HTML Editor in Visual Web Developer.

Tasks

Walkthrough: Advanced HTML Editing in Visual Studio for Web Forms Pages

UI Elements

Statement completion

Selecting these options activates automatic statement completion in the Source view editor.

Note

The Validation Target option, set in the Validation, HTML, Text Editor, Options Dialog Box, determines which items are listed in statement completion pop-up lists. Only items defined in the validation schema for the targeted Web browser are listed as choices.

Auto list members
When this check box is selected, pop-up lists of valid elements, properties, attributes, or methods are displayed as you edit markup in the Source view editor. Choose any item from the pop-up list to insert it into your markup. For more information, see List Members.
Hide advanced members
When this check box is selected, pop-up statement completion lists are shortened to display only those items most commonly used. Other items are filtered from the list.

Note

This check box is always disabled in Visual Web Developer, but is enabled for other Visual Studio products.
Parameter information
When this check box is selected, the complete syntax for the current declaration or procedure is displayed to the left of the insertion point in the Source view editor, with all of its available parameters. The next parameter you can assign is displayed in bold. For more information, see Parameter Info.

Settings

Enable virtual space
When this check box is selected and the Word wrap check box is cleared, you can click anywhere beyond the end of a line in the Code Editor and type. This feature can be used to position comments at a consistent point next to your code.
Word wrap
When this check box is selected, any portion of a line that extends horizontally beyond the viewable editor area is automatically displayed on the next line. Selecting this option enables the Show visual glyphs for word wrap check box.
Show visual glyphs for word wrap
When this check box is selected, a return arrow indicator () is displayed where a long line wraps onto a second line. Clear this check box if you prefer not to display these indicators.

Note

These return arrows are not added to your code, and do not print. They are for reference only.
Apply Cut or Copy commands to blank lines when there is no selection
This check box sets the behavior of the editor when you place the insertion point on a blank line, select nothing, and then use the Copy or the Cut command:
- When this check box is selected, the blank line is copied or deleted. If you then use the Paste command, a new, blank line is inserted.
- When this check box is cleared, nothing is copied or deleted. If you then use the Paste command, the content most recently copied is inserted. If nothing has been copied previously, nothing is inserted.
This setting has no effect on the Copy or Cut commands when a line is not blank. If nothing is selected, the entire line is copied or deleted. If you then apply the Paste command, the text of the entire line and its endline character are inserted.

Note

To display indicators for spaces, tabs, and line ends, and thus distinguish indented lines from lines that are entirely blank, select Advanced from the Edit menu and choose View White Space.

Display

Line numbers
When this check box is selected, a line number appears next to each line in the Source view editor.

Note

These line numbers are not added to your markup, and do not print. They are for reference only.
Enable single-click URL navigation
When this check box is selected, the mouse pointer changes to a pointing hand as it passes over a URL in Design view. You can click the URL to display the Web site indicated in your Web browser.
Navigation bar
When this check box is selected, the Navigation bar appears at the top of the Source view editor. Its drop-down Object and Event lists allow you to choose a particular element in your markup and select from its available events. This inserts a new script function into your markup that will handle this event for that element.