Software Development

Visual Studio Code Tips and Tricks

Here are some of the most used key combinations and plugins we like for Visual Studio Code

Collapse Outline

<Ctrl> + <LeftArrow> will collapse the entire list making browsing so much easier.

How to remove extra line breaks

The key to removing line breaks is mastering Visual Studio’s search / replace box. Once you have opened the box wit Ctrl+h, then you must switch to regular expression with Alt+r. It’s best to experiment because different use cases present different solutions. For example, you could try these regular expressions:

$\n+

replace with

Multiple Cursors

Probably one of the most useful used shortcuts for web design. Please ESCAPE when done not ENTER.

Choose Next In Selection

Ctrl + D

Everything in Selection

You can add additional cursors to all occurrences of the current selection with Ctrl+Shift+L.

Do your thing then press ESCAPE, not ENTER.

Reference Editing Hacks: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/tips-and-tricks

Close All Files

Ctrl+K W

Duplicate Line

Ctrl+C + Ctrl+V on empty line

Import a class file

Alt Ctrl+I (I for India)

Quickly Jump to Any File

Ctrl+P allows you to search for any file

Align Equals Signs

Use the Better Align plugin, then invoke “Align” on the command palette

Invoke the Command Palette

Ctrl+Shift+P

Format the Document (and fix indentation)

Ctrl+Shift+I

Refactor Code Block

In our experience this is document for Visual Studio code but doesn’t work as well as PHPStorm. Install this plugin:
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=marsl.vscode-php-refactoring

The official documentation is here:
https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/refactoring

And refers to a PHP plugin we don’t use (it has a poor rating):
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=felixfbecker.php-intellisense

Other Plugins

Caleb Better PHPUnit – allows you to run test under cursor
Align =>