Classic Online Help in Visual Studio

  • Article

Keyboard:  CTRL + ALT + F1 (manage help); CTRL + F1 (view help)
Menu:  Help -> Manage Help Settings; Help -> View Help
Versions:  2010
Published:  12/27/2010
Code:  vstipTool0120

 

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So,  I have to admit I don't like the new online help in Visual Studio 2010.  Not that I think it bad per se but I was just use to the old help system look and feel particularly the contents list:

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If you are like me and want to get that classic look and feel back in your help you need to do two things:

 

Online Help

First, you will need to set your default help to online help (you will need Internet connectivity to use this feature) by going to Help -> Manage Help Settings then click on "Choose online or local help":

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Select "I want to use online help" and click OK:

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Using Classic View

Now that you are using online help.  Go to Help -> View Help:

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In the upper-right corner of the page look for the "Preferences" link and click on it:

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Choose "Classic" and click OK:

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You are all set!  Now you will have help with the old-style contents list:

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