Friday, December 19, 2008

Why can't I see my Visual Studio 2008 Solution File in the Solution Explorer

In Visual Studio 2008 when you open your project or even open a solution file the Solution Explorer doesn't show the solution file by default. There are times that you want to see the solution file, like when you want to add multiple projects to a solution. To show the solution file in the Solution Explorer just follow the instructions below once you are have your project open in Visual Studio 2008.
  1. Go to the Tools Menu and choose the Options... menu item.
  2. In the Options window, expand the Projects and Solutions node.
  3. Click the General node (child of the Projects and Solutions node)
  4. Click the Always show solution checkbox.
  5. Click OK.
Now you should be able to see the Solution file in the Solution Explorer. If you want to add another project to the solution all you have to do is right click on the solution and choose Add | New Project...
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25 comments:

  1. Devlift MediaMarch 2, 2009 at 9:58:00 AM MST

    Very Helpful! Thank You

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brent VMarch 2, 2009 at 10:48:00 AM MST

    Club Man,

    Thank you very much for the feedback. I always appreciate knowing I helped someone.

    Thank you,

    Brent

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 31, 2009 at 9:15:00 AM MST

    Very useful. I have struggled with this before. It should be the default behavior in VS.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 31, 2009 at 9:16:00 AM MST

    Very useful. Should be the default setting in VS.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Brent VMarch 31, 2009 at 9:17:00 AM MST

    Anonymous,

    So glad it helped, and thank you for the feedback! It is greatly appreciated. Yes, I agree, it should have been the default.

    Brent

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownJune 13, 2009 at 7:30:00 AM MST

    Thank you very much

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brent VJuly 22, 2009 at 9:10:00 PM MST

    Arvind,

    Thanks for the feedback! You're welcome.

    Glad to help.

    Brent

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJuly 31, 2009 at 3:38:00 PM MST

    Excellent, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Brent VSeptember 4, 2009 at 8:52:00 AM MST

    Anonymous,

    Thank you for the feedback. So glad it helped.

    Brent

    ReplyDelete
  10. JJ RuescasOctober 1, 2009 at 8:33:00 PM MST

    THNX VERY MUCH!!!!
    Really Appreciate! :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. Brent VOctober 6, 2009 at 8:29:00 AM MST

    JuanJo,

    You are very welcome!

    Brent

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousNovember 5, 2009 at 10:55:00 AM MST

    Whew! I was trying to help a colleague set the solution properties, yet there was no solution to set properties on! Your post came up first on google search, thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Brent VNovember 16, 2009 at 3:06:00 PM MST

    Anonymous,

    1st of Google, AWESOME! Something so simple, but useful to so many. I love it!

    Thx for letting me know.

    Brent

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousApril 8, 2010 at 4:27:00 AM MST

    Just what the doctor ordered, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousApril 15, 2010 at 11:51:00 AM MST

    thanks, I almost bit my fingers.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ankan PalApril 28, 2010 at 10:42:00 AM MST

    very short and to the point. no unnecessary crap content. I really appretiate this. Thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousJune 1, 2010 at 12:49:00 AM MST

    Very helpful!! Thanks a lot

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousJuly 21, 2010 at 9:33:00 PM MST

    GRACIAS!

    ReplyDelete
  19. harimanSeptember 23, 2010 at 12:21:00 AM MST

    Great stuff, thanks!

    You might also want to add that there is a checkbox "show all settings" in the Options window. That checkbox has to be ticked in order for "Projects and Solutions" to show. Baffled me for a moment.

    ReplyDelete
  20. RajkumarApril 22, 2011 at 9:07:00 PM MST

    Thanks, It was very helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousJune 17, 2011 at 6:33:00 AM MST

    Thanks you VERY MUCH!

    SHOULD be default just like "show all settings" in the Options window SHOULD be.

    I can MAYBE see that hiding details in Windows Explorer or Microsoft Office might help non-tech Users. But this is VIS-U-AL STU-DI-O, you know for PRO-GRAM-MERS!?! Programmers would lose much more from trying to find details they might need, than benefit from details being hidden to reduce "clutter". Especially with this Solution thing. It's one - freakin'line!!! How much "clutter" is that really causing?

    I'm not against encapsulation or even collapsed sub-/Trees but in both cases the "details" are much easier to find (i.e. via "Show Definition" or "+" Icon), but the "Always show solution" option is in a TOTALLY different part of the program.

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousAugust 4, 2011 at 8:39:00 AM MST

    thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2011 at 10:25:00 AM MST

    I have been stumped for months on this and had to revert back to VS 2005 when I had to work with a multiple project solution.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  24. veshchesSeptember 13, 2011 at 3:30:00 PM MST

    Thank you so much for posting this.

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousOctober 4, 2012 at 11:59:00 PM MST

    Thanks ,really it very helpful.....

    ReplyDelete