Did you know... How to optimize Visual Studio for Multi-Monitor setups

Update 7/20 @ 11:53pm: We have a bug:   Please vote and leave your suggestions / feedback at https://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/ProductFeedback/viewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackId=cf3597fc-2acf-43c7-b09f-a7e1dd7474f5  Many thanks ShadowChaser!

Update 7/20 @ 9:20pm:   As i mentioned below in the comments, i think the best course of action is to have one of y’all (our customers) report a suggestion via MSDN Product Feedback and let me know what the bug ID is, so everyone can vote.  (if i were to raid it, you wouldn’t be able to see it to vote on it).  Please either email me and/or leave a comment below with the Bug ID, so i can let everyone know how and where to vote.  A big thank you from us multi-mon users!

Last year, I did a very informal survey on how many people out there use Visual Studio on Multi-Monitor displays.  Now that we, the blog authors, have control again over how long comments are open, I’ve reopened the comments so you can still leave your feedback.  But for now, here are some tips on how we use VS on multi-mon setups in house.

Stretching the VS across dual monitors

Go to a restore state, and stretch VS across dual monitors.

One of the benefits of doing this is to be able to view code in each monitor.  You can do a vertical split (Window – New Vertical Tab Group) down the center of the dual monitors.  Now you can have code windows on each monitor.

You can also customize the toolbars to place them on which ever monitor you prefer as your primary.  Just grab the grip control for the toolbars and drag them over to whichever monitor.

Viewing Debugging Tool Windows on secondary monitor

Whenever I’m debugging, I prefer to have the following tool windows like the Watch Window and Output Window on the secondary monitor, with VS occupying the primary monitor.  These tool windows have to be either dockable or floating (floating is what you probably want).  Resize these windows to occupy half of the screen.  Remember, you can use Tools – Import / Export Settings to save your favorite window layouts.  And since these windows only appear during debugging, you don’t have to worry about them occupying your secondary monitor when not in use.

Place External Help on secondary monitor

Dexplore, the Help Viewer, can be placed on the second monitor for a pleasurable help experience.

What other tips should I include in this entry?

Leave a tip as a comment and I’ll update this entry.

Happy Visual Studio’ing!