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I want to write a visual studio extension to build a wrapper around a technology outside of .Net. Essentially I am looking to create functionality similar to the "Service Reference" where the user will specify a resource and my extension will build a .Net wrapper around that resource.

I read this question which references the article Create custom editors and designers. The article explains editors but despite its name barely mentions designers and never really distinguishes the two.

Also, the article has a line that makes me think that writing an editor may not be what I need,

Note, however, that users will not be able to use a custom editor to edit standard Visual Studio projects.

So, in order to make a custom editor I have to make my own project type? What if I want my extension to be usable in any project type?

I would appreciate any direction that can be provided. I have extensive .Net experience, but am new to writing VS Extensions. I am building in visual Studio 2019 RC.

Jacob
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  • Hi, so which way you want to open your custom option? Right-click in the editor and choose "xxx option"? What about setting the option at menu command or one button in solution explorer? – LoLance Apr 01 '19 at 09:33
  • I guess I am open to any of those possibilities. I think Ideal would be creating it with an "Add..." and then being able to configure/refresh it with a context menu in the solution explorer. – Jacob Apr 02 '19 at 12:37
  • You may get some help from this [issue](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/51967027/vsix-project-context-menu) which gives the suggestion about how to put function button under Add-node in solution explorer. – LoLance Apr 03 '19 at 08:26
  • That is valuable information that I will make use of. However, my question here is more basic. I need to know for sure what an editor is and what a designer is and which I need to create (or do I need something else?). I don't want to build out my extension and then discover that it only works on a custom project type. – Jacob Apr 03 '19 at 13:24
  • An editor is like the window where we use to write code. For the designer, it might be something like a designer in winform , wpf.(But I'm not familiar with it) – LoLance Apr 04 '19 at 10:56
  • As what you want to develop is an function like add=> service ref, I think you don't need to use editor or designer, the more suitable way can be what I provide above. And for sth in solution explorer, I think it can works no matter in default project type or custom ones.(For this, I will try it this weekend if possible, update I will share here) – LoLance Apr 04 '19 at 10:59

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