Arguments for External Tools
Arguments are variables that the integrated development environment supplies values for when an external tool is launched from the Tools menu. External tools, such as Spy++ or Notepad, can be added to the Tools menu using the External Tools dialog box.
| Name | Argument | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Item Path | $(ItemPath) | The complete file name of the current source (defined as drive + path + file name); blank if a non-source window is active. |
| Item Directory | $(ItemDir) | The directory of the current source (defined as drive + path); blank if a non-source window is active. |
| Item File Name | $(ItemFilename) | The file name of the current source (defined as file name); blank if a non-source window is active. |
| Item Extension | $(ItemExt) | The file name extension of the current source. |
| Current Line1 | $(CurLine) | The current line position of the cursor in the editor |
| Current Column1 | $(CurCol) | The current column position of the cursor in the editor |
| Current Text1 | $(CurText) | The current text (the word under the current cursor position, or a single-line selection, if there is one). |
| Target Path | $(TargetPath) | The complete file name of the target (defined as drive + path + file name). |
| Target Directory | $(TargetDir) | The directory of the target. |
| Target Name | $(TargetName) | The file name of the target. |
| Target Extension | $(TargetExt) | The file name extension of the target. |
| Project directory | $(ProjDir) | The directory of the current project (defined as drive + path). |
| Project file name | $(ProjFileName) | The file name of the current project (defined as drive + path + file name). |
| Solution directory | $(SolutionDir) | The directory of the current solution (defined as drive + path). |
| Solution file name | $(SolutionFileName) | The file name of the current solution (defined as drive + path + file name). |
1 A line, column, or text is based on the current position of the cursor the text editor as shown in the status bar.
See Also
Launching Tools from Visual Studio | External Tools Dialog Box | Arguments Dialog Box