Code snippets for methods in Visual Studio

In Visual Studio I can type e.g.

> for TAB TAB

and a code snippet pops in.

Are there built-in code snippets for private, public, etc. methods as well?

ctor: Default constructor

prop: Property

propg: Read-only property

sim: static int main method

svm: static void main method

There's a good list here. And if you want to make your own, the Snippet Designer is very good.

Here are all the Visual C# code snippets for Visual Studio 2017

You can download the method snippets as a Visual Studio Extension.

It supports the following:

method (typical method)

vmethod (virtual method)

smethod (static method)

xmethod (extension method)

1. In Visual Studio, go to menu Tools → Extensions and Updates...

2. Observe the Extensions and Updates window

3. Enter "C# Methods Code Snippets" in the search field (upper right)

If you want to see the list of all available snippets:

• Press Ctrl + K and then Ctrl + X

Below are the steps I used to create a custom snippet for Visual Studio 2010, but the steps work for Visual Studio 2008.

Create a new text file named method.snippet and paste the following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<CodeSnippets  xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2005/CodeSnippet">
    <CodeSnippet Format="1.0.0">
        <Header>
            <Title>method</Title>
            <Shortcut>method</Shortcut>
            <Description>Code snippet for method</Description>
            <Author>Kevin Hogg</Author>
            <SnippetTypes>
                <SnippetType>Expansion</SnippetType>
            </SnippetTypes>
        </Header>
        <Snippet>
            <Declarations>
                <Literal>
                    <ID>methodname</ID>
                    <ToolTip>Method name</ToolTip>
                    <Function>MethodName()</Function>
                    <Default>MethodNamePlaceholder</Default>
                </Literal>
            </Declarations>
            <Code Language="csharp"><![CDATA[public void $methodname$ ()
    {
        $end$
    }]]>
            </Code>
        </Snippet>
    </CodeSnippet>
</CodeSnippets>

Copy your file into the snippets folder in Windows Explorer:

• Visual Studio 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC#\Snippets\1033\Visual C#
• Visual Studio 2008: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC#\Snippets\1033\Visual C#

Once you save your file, the snippets are automatically loaded, so you can now open Visual Studio and type:

method<tab><tab>

*where <tab> is the Tab key on your keyboard.

You should now see the following created, with the MethodNamePlaceholder highlighted so you can change the name.

public void MethodNamePlaceholder()
{

}

Some of the snippets I use, also mentioned at MSDN, follows:

> 1. '#if Creates a #if directive and a #endif directive. > 2. '#region Creates a #region directive and a #endregion directive. > 3. ~ Creates a destructor for the containing class. > 4. attribute Creates a declaration for a class that derives from Attribute. > 5. checked Creates a checked block. > 6. class Creates a class declaration. > 7. ctor Creates a constructor for the containing class. > 8. cw Creates a call to WriteLine. > 9. do Creates a do while loop. > 10. else Creates an else block. > 11. enum Creates an enum declaration. > 12. equals Creates a method declaration that overrides the Equals method defined in the Object class. > 13. exception Creates a declaration for a class that derives from an exception (Exception by default). > 14. for Creates a for loop. > 15. foreach Creates a foreach loop. > 16. forr Creates a for loop that decrements the loop variable after each iteration. > 17. if Creates an if block. > 18. indexer Creates an indexer declaration. > 19. interface Creates an interface declaration. > 20. invoke Creates a block that safely invokes an event. > 21. iterator Creates an iterator. > 22. iterindex Creates a "named" iterator and indexer pair by using a nested class. > 23. lock Creates a lock block. > 24. mbox Creates a call to MessageBox.Show. You may have to add a reference to System.Windows.Forms.dll. > 25. namespace Creates a namespace declaration. > 26. prop Creates an auto-implemented property declaration. > 27. propfull Creates a property declaration with get and set accessors. > 28. propg Creates a read-only auto-implemented property with a private "set" accessor. > 29. sim Creates a static int Main method declaration. > 30. struct Creates a struct declaration. > 31. svm Creates a static void Main method declaration. > 32. switch Creates a switch block. > 33. try Creates a try-catch block. > 34. tryf Creates a try-finally block. > 35. unchecked Creates an unchecked block. > 36. unsafe Creates an unsafe block. > 37. using Creates a using directive. > 38. while Creates a while loop.

I made my own snippet for a method. The XML code for it is the following, and you can add it to a file called "my_method.snippet" (or whatever_you_want.snippet) in C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\Documents\Visual Studio 2012\Code Snippets\Visual C#\My Code Snippets (your path might be different because I use VS2012):

<CodeSnippet Format="1.0.0">
    <Header>
        <Title>method</Title>
        <Shortcut>method</Shortcut>
        <SnippetTypes>
            <SnippetType>Expansion</SnippetType>
        </SnippetTypes>
    </Header>
    <Snippet>
        <Declarations>
            <Literal>
                <ID>access_modifier</ID>
                <Default>private</Default>
            </Literal>
            <Literal>
                <ID>return_type</ID>
                <Default>void</Default>
            </Literal>
            <Literal>
                <ID>name</ID>
                <Default>New_method</Default>
            </Literal>
        </Declarations>
        <Code Language="csharp">
            <![CDATA[$access_modifier$ $return_type$ $name$ ()
    {
	$end$
    }]]>
        </Code>
    </Snippet>
</CodeSnippet>

You can create customs snippets. Like this:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/gz3tzjnydk5/meth.snippet

The code snippet for properties is:

> propTABTAB