Placement of Solution Explorer in VS.NET

The first time I ran VS.NET 2005, I was asked to select a profile matching my developing needs. I selected the C# developer profile and expected to have the Solution Explorer docked to the left side of the IDE. Though, it was placed on the right side. This is IMHO a bad choice.

I think it should be docked on the left side because of the following:
A developer who looks in rest-position at the monitor normally looks at the center of the screen (funny jokes aside what you define as 'rest' position ). Because all code is left-aligned (unless you're using hebrew or arabic writing), the left half of the code window has more code statements than the right-half of the code window. Having the Solution Explorer docked at the left (and the Solution Explorer is likely to be opened at all times) the left side of the code window is placed at or around the point where the developer will look at in rest-position. If you have the Solution Explorer at the right side of the IDE, the left half of the code window, with most of your code, is positioned at the left side of the IDE, and thus at the left side of your screen. You then thus have to look at the left side of your screen to see your main focus of work, IMHO that's not the most optimal position.

Yes I know in VB5/6 it was docked at the right as well, I never understood that as well (in VC++ it was at the left, which made way more sense, see above). Happy Re-docking

15 Comments

  • At least on my system, in VS.NET 2003, the Solution Explorer was docked at the right side by default.



  • Why don't you just move it to the left side. Some people like left, some like right. I have my solution explorer on the right side.



    The entire layout, as you know, is customizable.

  • That's also where it was in VS2K3.



    Also, you probably should've been using the CTP's and complaining on Product Feedback if you don't like it.



    Personally, that's where I like it (on the right). It's an easier transition to dual monitors. Do you put your secondary monitor to the left of your main monitor?

  • "Also, you probably should've been using the CTP's and complaining on Product Feedback if you don't like it. "

    Yeah, like the complaint I once send back when whidbey was alpha still about multi-line text search and that they would implement it... but didn't.



    I have a single monitor, 19" with 1600x1200 (iiyama CRT). :)

  • If you plan on keeping your Solution Explorer open, your suggestions make sense. On the other hand, I always keep mine collapsed, so I want it on the right side. Otherwise, when it expands, it covers the code that, as you wisely noted, sits mostly on the left.



    I'm guessing the decision as to the 'default' positioning was one made by committee. "If we collapse it by default, people won't know where it went to. But if we put it on the left, it makes the code jump around. Why don't we just put it on the right". Hence getting the worst of both worlds. ;)

  • Haha Bruce, what a great comment :D. Not only very funny, it actually makes sense when you think about it... ;)

  • > I have a single monitor, 19" with 1600x1200 (iiyama CRT).



    Wow, you really should go dual display. You're cheating yourself out of a lot of productivity with only one display!



    Two displays should be REQUIRED for developers IMO.

  • "Wow, you really should go dual display. You're cheating yourself out of a lot of productivity with only one display! "

    I've thought about it, but the moments I needed 2 screens because my current screen was too small aren't that often.



    Could you please explain, and I know explaining an experience is hard, why a dual monitor setup is more productive? Thanks :)

  • Frans... Believe me, once you have used dual monitors for development you can NEVER go back. I have dual monitors at the office and at home. When I work from home over Remote Desktop (which doesn't support dual monitors) I almost feel like making the trip into the office. It's difficult to pin down exactly what the productivity gains are, but the second monitor saves you from any alt-tabbing. You can code on monitor 1 and test on monitor 2. Other secondary applications, like Email, IM etc are also open on monitor 2. You can also run VS.NET over the two monitors and create a vertical tab group on monitor 2. The allows you to have 2 code panels open, one on each monitor and of course your solution explorer (which is what this thread was all about...) is open also on the secondary monitor. Trust me - Buy 2 quality 17" flat panels.

  • I've noticed that for a while now.

    I never understood why people liked it on the right, but I just move everything around the first time I open it after an install. (Then close to save the settings)



    With it on the left, I have an index (large scope) on the left with projects, files and folders and a details view in the code window on the right.



    If I were using an RTL language, I'm sure I would see it the other way.



    A few other issues are the fact that only some of the open code windows appear as tabs and the current file is no longer selected in the project explorer.

    The UI no longer helps me see what is open and where I am in the project structure. 2003 could be annoying with constant jumping around, but now I have to keep track myself.



    The Control+Tab behavior seems to have changed too.

    I find myself closing all editor windows just to get "centered" much more than I ever have before.



    Chords: Harumph, it makes sense and all that, but I am not a typist, I have a few hotkeys that I assign based on my frequency of use and the size of my hands.



    It a list of petty complaints, but the real thing for me is that I CAN change almost all of it.

    I had a bit of difficulty with CTRL+B to "build selection" (build current project) because of a global chord, but I've changed the CTRL+TAB and I know I can get it to select the files as I change files in the editor.



    One thing I frequently did when I had two monitors was having Office stuff and the specs on one screen and VS on the other.



    It would be nice to have some predefined configs for dual monitors but don't make it the default; it will be a long time before most employers recognize that two screens are more than worth the cost. :(

    I've only seen it happen when there was "extra" hardware sitting around unused to provide the first second monitor configs.



  • I totally agree with the opinions about having dual monitors. It makes life so much easier. Especially if you switch between windows a lot.

  • > once you have used dual monitors for development you can NEVER go back

    ... which is why I never use one. I need to be able to code on the road with my laptop, so I can't allow myself to become dependent on a second monitor.

  • Frans: Hi, i'm Cyrus, a developer on the C# IDE team. We considered moving solution explorer to the left side and we even had that in the builds for a while. I was a huge proponent for that model as i feel that tree views should be presented in the accepted location and direction for the culture currently using it. Hence: US cultures would have it on the left (like Windows Explorer, Outlook, etc.)



    However, after doing this we got a tremendous amount of negative feedback from people using the product. Everyone has become so used to Solution Explorer being on the right for many versions and they did not like it moving around.



    Given that feedback *and* the fact that we have the capability to move these windows around, we felt that this wasn't important enough to change fro 2k5.

  • Thanks Cyrus for this excellent info :). I agree, it's not a big deal, that was also not my intention of the blogposting, I just wondered why it was placed at the right if there's a logical explanation to have it at the left ;).

  • I think it makes sense to have the window on the right for the same reason so many web sites have moved navigation to the right.



    You spend so much time scrolling up and down the windows that having these windows on the right-hand side makes a lot less effort to move the mouse pointer over to the left each time you need something.



    All preference though...

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