Visual Studio: Shortcut to scroll solution explorer to current file

Question

I'm not asking for the option to automatically follow the current file in the solution explorer. This has been answered in this question and I have this option turned off because I hate the behavior.

I would like to have a shortcut (or macro, or ....) to jump to the file I'm currently editing in the solution explorer.

Possible duplicate https://stackoverflow.com/a/55025095/661584 ? — MemeDeveloper, Mar 06 '19 at 14:12

score 119 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 22 '21 at 15:35

119

In VS 2013 there is a built-in keyboard shortcut (CTRL+\, S)

Press CTRL+backslash
Release both keys
Press the S key

Or click the button highlighted in the image bellow.

Sync with active document

One also has the option to customize the keyboard shortcut if you don't like the default combination :)

edited Apr 22 '21 at 15:35

Matas Vaitkevicius

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answered Jan 05 '15 at 00:23

moander

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This keyboard shortcut is called `SolutionExplorer.SyncWithActiveDocument` (Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Keyboard) – Laoujin Jan 05 '15 at 11:55
31

The default shortcut is Ctrl+[,S in my VS. – Roman O Apr 09 '15 at 01:23
CTRL+backslash did not work for me actually, see: http://stackoverflow.com/a/37158527/2874896 – Jim Aho May 11 '16 at 09:34
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You may want to deactivate the `Track Active Item in Solution Explorer` first, so syncing solution explorer will only happen on pressing this shortcut instead of "jumping" around when switiching code files. – phifi Feb 20 '17 at 08:52
Awesome. great help :) – sebastian Jul 23 '18 at 08:44

Adrian Thompson Phillips · Answer 2 · 2022-08-15T09:26:49.110

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In Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022 you can press Ctrl + [ and then s.

This will highlight the file currently being edited in Solution Explorer.

This can be configured via the following keyboard command: SolutionExplorer.SyncWithActiveDocument

To reconfigure, navigate to Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Keyboard

edited Aug 15 '22 at 09:26

answered Mar 21 '16 at 15:44

Adrian Thompson Phillips

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In Visual Studio 2015, with ReSharper, I am able to press "Shift" + "Alt" + "L" to highlight the current file being edited in Solution Explorer. – Jeremy Paskali Mar 23 '16 at 14:13
In Visual Studio 2013 update 5 this is also the correct combination. – FrankyHollywood Aug 31 '16 at 05:29
@JeremyPaskali Thank you very much for this. As Im using resharper thats the easier way for me to go :). – C4d Sep 14 '16 at 14:30
Works also in 2017RC. – stej Nov 25 '16 at 13:27
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@JeremyPaskali - Can you add your comment as an answer? I'm also using ReSharper, and this key combo was the only one that worked for me. – Philip Pittle Jan 23 '17 at 21:57
@PhilipPittle, I've added my comment as an answer now. Thanks for asking me to do this. – Jeremy Paskali Jan 28 '17 at 17:17
@C4u, I've added my comment as an answer now. – Jeremy Paskali Jan 28 '17 at 17:17
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For those that are wanting to remap the shortcut to something else, in 2019 the command is called "SolutionExplorer.SyncWithActiveDocument". – Garrison Becker Jul 19 '19 at 01:28
Ctrl-), s for people that are using Azerty – Jeroen Corteville Aug 22 '23 at 14:17

score 29 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 18 '13 at 13:35

29

As far as I know there is no such option before VS 2012.

In VS 2012 the "Sync with Active Document" option was introduced. You can find description and screen on this blog (scroll to "Sync with Active Document" in the middle of page).

answered Feb 18 '13 at 13:35

psur

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This should be marked as the correct answer as it precisely answers the question. – Umar Farooq Khawaja Jun 15 '13 at 22:25
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We're using Resharper now. It has a feature to do exactly this. Default shortcut: Shift+Alt+L – Laoujin Feb 05 '14 at 13:18
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Thanks for the Resharper command, I was searching for that as well. – bastijn Feb 24 '14 at 10:18
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This is definitely the answer and does not require 3rd party tools like ReSharper. Ctrl + ' [ ' then 's' Or: Press 'Ctrl' and Left Square Bracket, then 's' – Antony Booth Oct 13 '15 at 04:47

score 6 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 10 '17 at 09:39

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To locate the file you're currently editing in Solution Explorer:

Ctrl + W + S

I previously used Shift + Alt + L, but for some reason this is no longer working.

The other suggestions (Ctrl+\,S and Ctrl+[,S and Ctrl + ` + S) do not work for me in VS2015. I don't use resharper and dont like using macros when simple shortcuts are available.

answered Jan 10 '17 at 09:39

Spyder

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This is the only that worked for me in VS 2017, thanks. – Felipe Costa Gualberto Apr 19 '19 at 15:25

score 6 · Answer 5 · edited Jan 31 '17 at 08:43

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In Visual Studio 2015, with ReSharper, I am able to press Shift + Alt + L to highlight the current file being edited in Solution Explorer.

edited Jan 31 '17 at 08:43

Philip Pittle

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answered Jan 28 '17 at 17:16

Jeremy Paskali

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I'm also using ReSharper and this was the only keyboard combination that worked for me. Maybe ReSharper overrides the VS defaults? – Philip Pittle Jan 31 '17 at 08:44
Do you know the name of the keyboard command where this shortcut can be configured? – Ciaran Gallagher Jul 01 '20 at 14:47

score 3 · Answer 6 · answered Feb 18 '13 at 13:55

For VS2010 I found this macro and works for me :

Imports System
Imports EnvDTE
Imports EnvDTE80
Imports EnvDTE90

Public Module Utilities
    Public Sub TrackProjectItem()
        Dim solution As Solution2 = DTE.Solution
        If Not solution.IsOpen OrElse DTE.ActiveDocument Is Nothing Then Return

        solution.FindProjectItem(DTE.ActiveDocument.FullName).ExpandView()

        Dim FileName As String = DTE.ActiveDocument.FullName

        Dim SolutionExplorerPath As String
        Dim items As EnvDTE.UIHierarchyItems = DTE.ToolWindows.SolutionExplorer.UIHierarchyItems
        Dim item As Object = FindItem(items, FileName, SolutionExplorerPath)

        If item Is Nothing Then
            MsgBox("Couldn't find the item in Solution Explorer.")
            Return
        End If

        DTE.Windows.Item(Constants.vsWindowKindSolutionExplorer).Activate()
        DTE.ActiveWindow.Object.GetItem(SolutionExplorerPath).Select(vsUISelectionType.vsUISelectionTypeSelect)
    End Sub

    Public Function FindItem(ByVal Children As UIHierarchyItems, ByVal FileName As String, ByRef SolutionExplorerPath As String) As Object
        For Each CurrentItem As UIHierarchyItem In Children
            Dim TypeName As String = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Information.TypeName(CurrentItem.Object)
            If TypeName = "ProjectItem" Then
                Dim projectitem As EnvDTE.ProjectItem = CType(CurrentItem.Object, EnvDTE.ProjectItem)
                Dim i As Integer = 1
                While i <= projectitem.FileCount
                    If projectitem.FileNames(i) = FileName Then
                        SolutionExplorerPath = CurrentItem.Name
                        Return CurrentItem
                    End If
                    i = i + 1
                End While
            End If

            Dim ChildItem As UIHierarchyItem = FindItem(CurrentItem.UIHierarchyItems, FileName, SolutionExplorerPath)
            If Not ChildItem Is Nothing Then
                SolutionExplorerPath = CurrentItem.Name + "\" + SolutionExplorerPath
                Return ChildItem
            End If
        Next
    End Function
End Module

Original Source here

user503386 · Answer 7 · 2013-02-20T09:07:27.740

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In Visual Studio 2010/2012 you can use this extension (link). It adds option to sync on Solution Explorer toolbar and code context menu.

edited Feb 20 '13 at 09:07

answered Feb 19 '13 at 15:46

user503386

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the "link" open this same page XD – Mate Feb 19 '13 at 18:17
It shows a new menu item "Find In Solution Explorer" to the context menu when you right click on our document tab. this menu is positioned between the "Copy Full Path" and "Open Containing Folder" menu items. – S.Serpooshan Apr 09 '14 at 05:26

score 3 · Answer 8 · answered Nov 21 '18 at 14:13

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For VS 2017 the default configuration is:

CTRL + [,S

And the complete list of shortcuts you can find here:

http://visualstudioshortcuts.com/2017/

answered Nov 21 '18 at 14:13

cpoDesign

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score 2 · Answer 9 · answered Apr 25 '18 at 03:37

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If I got your question right, you can go to Tools -> Options -> Projects and Solutions -> General and check the "Track Active Item in Solution Explorer" option.

answered Apr 25 '18 at 03:37

amirdaraee

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You're a saint. Works for me in VS 2019. Granted, not what the OP asked, but very useful to have on here anyway. – Porter Lyman Aug 05 '21 at 19:49

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered May 11 '16 at 09:33

0

On my keyboard I had to press:

Ctrl + ` + S

Do note that the sign in the middle is the key just left of the backspace.

Using Visual Studio 2015.

answered May 11 '16 at 09:33

Jim Aho

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It might help if you said which layout you‘re using. The info where the key is located is helpful though. – bugybunny Oct 23 '18 at 06:56

nimblebit · Answer 11 · 2023-05-16T11:09:33.440

On Visual Studio the Sync With Active Document icon is not displayed when the "Track Active Item in Solution Explorer" option is already ticked under Tools > Options > Projects and Solutions > General.

To display the icon and perform the sync manually untick the "Track Active Item in Solution Explorer" option

or use the keyboard shortcut: "Ctrl" and "[" and "s" together on the active page

In Visual Studio 2013 the icon appears differently. It appears as a right and left pointer icon .

On Visual Studio 2019 the refresh icon with circular double arrows is now the Sync button

Visual Studio: Shortcut to scroll solution explorer to current file

11 Answers11

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