The Code Editor is a text editor which allows you to edit
text, but has features that make it particularly well suited to editing code.
You can open multiple code editors to view or edit the code in projects and
copy and paste among them. The Windows menu contains a list
of all open code editors..
The code editor supports the language of the source file that it is editing,
showing code with syntax highlighting and offering smart indenting.
You can open a code editor in several ways, some of which are:
- By double clicking on a file in the Project Explorer or
by right clicking on a file and selecting Open from the
context menu.
- Using the File menu, by choosing the New or Open commands.
- Right clicking in a source file and selecting a file from the Open
Include File menu,
Elements of the code editor
The code editor is divided into several elements which are described here.
-
Code Pane The area where you edit your code.
You can set options that affect the behavior of text in the code pane as
it relates to indenting, tabbing, dragging and dropping of text, and so forth.
For more information, see General, All Languages, Text Editor, Options Dialog
Box.
-
Margin gutter A gray area on the left side
of the code editor where margin indicators such as breakpoints, bookmarks,
and shortcuts are displayed. Clicking this area sets a breakpoint on the
corresponding line of code. You can hide or display the Margin Indicator
bar in General, Tools, Text Editor, Options dialog box.
-
Horizontal and vertical scroll bars Allows
you to scroll the code pane horizontally and vertically so that you can view
the code that extends beyond the viewable edges of the code pane. You can
hide or display the horizontal and vertical scroll bars using the General,
Tools, Text Editor, Options dialog box.