Miscellaneous, HTML, Text Editor, Options Dialog Box

These settings enable you to set preferences for how the HTML editor works when you paste elements into the page and when you first open a file.

In Visual Web Developer, click Tools, and then click Options.

The Options dialog box opens.

In the left panel, double-click (or expand) the Text Editor node, expand the HTML node, and then click Miscellaneous.

Note
If you have configured your environment settings for Web development, this node is not available unless you select the Show all settings check box. For more information about environment settings, see How to: Change Select Settings.

Additional HTML options can be found under the HTML Designer node, which is visible when the Show all settings check box is selected.

Tasks

Auto ID elements on paste in Source view
When this check box is selected, the editor assigns a unique ID to each element as you paste it into the page. The editor adds a sequential number to the existing ID.

If you disable this option, elements are pasted in with their existing IDs (if any). If required, you must manually change the element IDs to avoid multiple identical IDs on the page.
Auto ID elements on code fragment insertion
When this check box is selected, the editor assigns a unique ID to the code fragment element as you paste it into the page. The editor adds a sequential number to the existing ID.

If you disable this option, elements are pasted in with their existing IDs (if any). If required, you must manually change the element IDs to avoid multiple identical IDs on the page.
Format HTML on paste
When this check box is selected, the editor reformats elements when you paste them into the page, using the currently defined formatting rules. If this check box is not selected, the editor pastes the elements in using the exact formatting of the original element.
Require '<' to trigger tag completion window
When this check box is selected, the tag completion window appears when you type the greater than character ("<").