Walkthrough: Adding Search to a Tool Window

Article
01/27/2013

When you create or update a tool window in your extension, you can add the same search functionality that appears elsewhere in Visual Studio. This functionality includes the following features:

A search box that’s always located in a custom area of the toolbar.
A progress indicator that’s overlaid on the search box itself.
The ability to show results as soon as you enter each character (instant search) or only after you choose the Enter key (search on demand).
A list that shows terms for which you’ve searched most recently.
The ability to filter searches by specific fields or aspects of the search targets.

By following this walkthrough, you’ll learn how to perform the following tasks:

Create a VSPackage project.
Create a tool window that contains a UserControl with a read-only TextBox.
Add a search box to the tool window.
Add the search implementation.
Enable instant search and display of a progress bar.
Add a Match case option.
Add a Search even lines only filter.

To create a VSPackage project

On the menu bar, choose File, New, Project.
In the New Project dialog box, expand Other Project Types, and then choose Extensibility.
In the Templates pane, choose the Visual Studio Package template.
In the Name box, enter TestToolWindowSearch for the solution, and then choose the OK button.

The Visual Studio Package Wizard starts.
On the Select a Programming Language page, choose the Visual C# or Visual Basic option button, and then choose the Next button.
On the Basic VSPackage Information page, accept the default values, and then choose the Next button.
On the Select VSPackage Options page, select the Tool Window check box, ensure that all other check boxes are cleared, and then choose the Next button.
On the Tool Window Options page, enter TestSearchWindow in the Window name box and cmdidTestSearchWindow in the Command ID box, and then choose the Next button.

The value in the Window name box also appears on the menu command for your tool window. That command will appear on the Other Windows submenu of the View menu.
On the Select Test Project Options page, accept the default values, and then choose the Finish button to create your VSPackage.

To create a tool window

In the TestToolWindowSearch project, open the MyControl.xaml file.

Replace the existing <StackPanel> block with the following block, which adds a read-only TextBox to the UserControl in the tool window.

<StackPanel Orientation="Vertical">
    <TextBox Name="resultsTextBox" Height="800.0"
        Width="800.0"
        IsReadOnly="True">
    </TextBox>
</StackPanel>

In the MyControl.xaml.cs or .vb file, remove the button1_Click() method.

In the MyControl class, add the following code.

This code adds a public TextBox property that’s named SearchResultsTextBox and a public string property that’s named SearchContent. In the constructor, SearchResultsTextBox is set to the text box, and SearchContent is initialized to a newline-delimited set of strings. The contents of the text box is also initialized to the set of strings.

Partial Public Class MyControl
    Inherits System.Windows.Controls.UserControl

    Public Property SearchResultsTextBox As System.Windows.Controls.TextBox
    Public Property SearchContent As String 

    Public Sub New()

        ' This call is required by the designer.
        InitializeComponent()

        ' Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call. 
        Me.SearchResultsTextBox = resultsTextBox
        Me.SearchContent = buildContent

        Me.SearchResultsTextBox.Text = Me.SearchContent
    End Sub 

    Private Function BuildContent() As String 
        Dim sb As New System.Text.StringBuilder()

        sb.AppendLine("1 go")
        sb.AppendLine("2 good")
        sb.AppendLine("3 Go")
        sb.AppendLine("4 Good")
        sb.AppendLine("5 goodbye")
        sb.AppendLine("6 Goodbye")

        Return sb.ToString()
    End Function 
End Class

public partial class MyControl : UserControl
{
    public TextBox SearchResultsTextBox { get; set; }
    public string SearchContent { get; set; }

    public MyControl()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        this.SearchResultsTextBox = resultsTextBox;
        this.SearchContent = BuildContent();

        this.SearchResultsTextBox.Text = this.SearchContent;
    }

    private string BuildContent()
    {
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
        sb.AppendLine("1 go");
        sb.AppendLine("2 good");
        sb.AppendLine("3 Go");
        sb.AppendLine("4 Good");
        sb.AppendLine("5 goodbye");
        sb.AppendLine("6 Goodbye");

        return sb.ToString();
    }
}

Build and debug the solution.

The experimental instance of Visual Studio appears.
On the menu bar, choose View, Other Windows, TestSearchWindow.

The tool window appears, but the search control doesn’t yet appear.

In the MyToolWindow.cs or .vb file, add the following code to the MyToolWindow class. The code overrides the SearchEnabled property so that the get accessor returns true.

To enable search, you must override the SearchEnabled property. The ToolWindowPane class implements IVsWindowSearch and provides a default implementation that doesn’t enable search.
```
Public Overrides ReadOnly Property SearchEnabled As Boolean 
    Get 
        Return True 
    End Get 
End Property
```
```
public override bool SearchEnabled
{
    get { return true; }
}
```
Rebuild and debug the solution.
In the experimental instance of Visual Studio, expand Other Windows, and then open TestSearchWindow.

At the top of the tool window, a search control appears with a Search watermark and a magnifying-glass icon. However, search doesn’t work yet because the search process hasn’t been implemented.

To add the search implementation

When you enable search on a ToolWindowPane, as in the previous procedure, the tool window creates a search host. This host sets up and manages search processes, which always occur on a background thread. Because the ToolWindowPane class manages the creation of the search host and the setting up of the search, you need only create a search task and provide the search method. The search process occurs on a background thread, and calls to the tool window control occur on the UI thread. Therefore, you must use the [M:Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.ThreadHelper.Invoke``1(System.Func`1)] method to manage any calls that you make in dealing with the control.

In the MyToolWindow.cs or .vb file, add the following using statements (C#) or Imports statements (Visual Basic):

Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Windows.Controls
Imports Microsoft.Internal.VisualStudio.PlatformUI
Imports Microsoft.VisualStudio
Imports Microsoft.VisualStudio.PlatformUI
Imports Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell
Imports Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using Microsoft.Internal.VisualStudio.PlatformUI;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.PlatformUI;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop;

In the MyToolWindow class, add the following code, which performs the following actions:

Overrides the CreateSearch method to create a search task.
Overrides the ClearSearch method to restore the state of the text box. This method is called when a user cancels a search task and when a user sets or unsets options or filters. Both CreateSearch and ClearSearch are called on the UI thread. Therefore, you don’t need to access the text box by means of the [M:Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.ThreadHelper.Invoke``1(System.Func`1)] method.
Creates a class that’s named TestSearchTask that inherits from VsSearchTask, which provides a default implementation of IVsSearchTask.

In TestSearchTask, the constructor sets a private field that references the tool window. To provide the search method, you override the OnStartSearch and OnStopSearch methods. The OnStartSearch method is where you implement the search process. This process includes performing the search, displaying the search results in the text box, and calling the base class implementation of this method to report that the search is complete.

Public Overrides Function CreateSearch(ByVal dwCookie As UInteger, ByVal pSearchQuery As IVsSearchQuery, ByVal pSearchCallback As IVsSearchCallback) As IVsSearchTask
    If pSearchQuery Is Nothing Or pSearchCallback Is Nothing Then 
        Return Nothing 
    Else 
        Return New TestSearchTask(dwCookie, pSearchQuery, pSearchCallback, Me)
    End If 
End Function 

Public Overrides Sub ClearSearch()
    Dim control = DirectCast(Me.Content, MyControl)
    control.SearchResultsTextBox.Text = control.SearchContent
End Sub 

Friend Class TestSearchTask
    Inherits VsSearchTask

    Private m_toolWindow As MyToolWindow

    Public Sub New(ByVal dwCookie As UInteger, ByVal pSearchQuery As IVsSearchQuery, ByVal pSearchCallback As IVsSearchCallback, ByVal toolwindow As MyToolWindow)
        MyBase.New(dwCookie, pSearchQuery, pSearchCallback)

        m_toolWindow = toolwindow
    End Sub 

    Protected Overrides Sub OnStartSearch()
        ' Use the original content of the text box as the target of the search. 
        Dim separator = New String() {Environment.NewLine}
        Dim contentArr As String() = DirectCast(m_toolWindow.Content, MyControl).SearchContent.Split(separator, StringSplitOptions.None)

        ' Get the search option. 
        Dim matchCase As Boolean = False 
        ' matchCase = m_toolWindow.MatchCaseOption.Value 

        ' Set variables that are used in the finally block. 
        Dim sb As New StringBuilder("")
        Dim resultCount As UInteger = 0
        Me.ErrorCode = VSConstants.S_OK

        Try 
            Dim searchString As String = Me.SearchQuery.SearchString

            ' Determine the results. 
            Dim progress As UInteger = 0
            For Each line As String In contentArr

                If matchCase = True Then 
                    If line.Contains(searchString) Then
                        sb.AppendLine(line)
                        resultCount += 1
                    End If 
                Else 
                    If line.ToLower().Contains(searchString.ToLower()) Then
                        sb.AppendLine(line)
                        resultCount += 1
                    End If 
                End If 
                ' SearchCallback.ReportProgress(Me, progress, CUInt(contentArr.GetLength(0))) 
                ' progress += 1 

                ' Uncomment the following line to demonstrate the progress bar. 
                ' System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100) 
            Next 
        Catch e As Exception
            Me.ErrorCode = VSConstants.E_FAIL
        Finally
            ThreadHelper.Generic.Invoke(
                Sub()
                    DirectCast(DirectCast(m_toolWindow.Content, MyControl).SearchResultsTextBox, TextBox).Text = sb.ToString()
                End Sub)

            Me.SearchResults = resultCount
        End Try 

        ' Call the implementation of this method in the base class. 
        ' This sets the task status to complete and reports task completion. 
        MyBase.OnStartSearch()
    End Sub 

    Protected Overrides Sub OnStopSearch()
        Me.SearchResults = 0
    End Sub 
End Class

public override IVsSearchTask CreateSearch(uint dwCookie, IVsSearchQuery pSearchQuery, IVsSearchCallback pSearchCallback)
{
    if (pSearchQuery == null || pSearchCallback == null)
        return null;
    return new TestSearchTask(dwCookie, pSearchQuery, pSearchCallback, this);
}

public override void ClearSearch()
{
    MyControl control = (MyControl)this.Content;
    control.SearchResultsTextBox.Text = control.SearchContent;
}

internal class TestSearchTask : VsSearchTask
{
    private MyToolWindow m_toolWindow;

    public TestSearchTask(uint dwCookie, IVsSearchQuery pSearchQuery, IVsSearchCallback pSearchCallback, MyToolWindow toolwindow)
        : base(dwCookie, pSearchQuery, pSearchCallback)
    {
        m_toolWindow = toolwindow;
    }

    protected override void OnStartSearch()
    {
        // Use the original content of the text box as the target of the search. 
        var separator = new string[] { Environment.NewLine };
        string[] contentArr = ((MyControl)m_toolWindow.Content).SearchContent.Split(separator, StringSplitOptions.None);

        // Get the search option. 
        bool matchCase = false;
        // matchCase = m_toolWindow.MatchCaseOption.Value; 

        // Set variables that are used in the finally block.
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("");
        uint resultCount = 0;
        this.ErrorCode = VSConstants.S_OK;

        try
        {
            string searchString = this.SearchQuery.SearchString;

            // Determine the results. 
            uint progress = 0;
            foreach (string line in contentArr)
            {
                if (matchCase == true)
                {
                    if (line.Contains(searchString))
                    {
                        sb.AppendLine(line);
                        resultCount++;
                    }
                }
                else
                {
                    if (line.ToLower().Contains(searchString.ToLower()))
                    {
                        sb.AppendLine(line);
                        resultCount++;
                    }
                }

                // SearchCallback.ReportProgress(this, progress++, (uint)contentArr.GetLength(0)); 

                // Uncomment the following line to demonstrate the progress bar. 
                // System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100);
            }
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            this.ErrorCode = VSConstants.E_FAIL;
        }
        finally
        {
            ThreadHelper.Generic.Invoke(() =>
            { ((TextBox)((MyControl)m_toolWindow.Content).SearchResultsTextBox).Text = sb.ToString(); });

            this.SearchResults = resultCount;
        }

        // Call the implementation of this method in the base class. 
        // This sets the task status to complete and reports task completion. 
        base.OnStartSearch();
    }

    protected override void OnStopSearch()
    {
        this.SearchResults = 0;
    }
}

Test your search implementation by performing the following steps:
1. Rebuild and debug the solution.
2. In the experimental instance of Visual Studio, open the tool window again, add text in the text box, enter search text in the search window, and then choose the Enter key.
  
  The correct results should appear.

To customize the search behavior

By changing the search settings, you can make a variety of changes in how the search control appears and how the search is carried out. For example, you can change the watermark (the default text that appears in the search box), the minimum and maximum width of the search control, and whether to show a progress bar. You can also change the point at which search results start to appear (on demand or instant search) and whether to show a list of terms for which you recently searched. You can find the complete list of settings in the SearchSettingsDataSource class.

In the MyToolWindow.cs or .vb file, add the following code to the MyToolWindow class. This code enables instant search instead of on-demand search. The code overrides the ProvideSearchSettings method in the MyToolWindow class, which is necessary to change the default settings.

Public Overrides Sub ProvideSearchSettings(ByVal pSearchSettings As IVsUIDataSource)
    Utilities.SetValue(pSearchSettings, SearchSettingsDataSource.SearchStartTypeProperty.Name, CUInt(VSSEARCHSTARTTYPE.SST_INSTANT))
End Sub

public override void ProvideSearchSettings(IVsUIDataSource pSearchSettings)
{
    Utilities.SetValue(pSearchSettings, SearchSettingsDataSource.SearchStartTypeProperty.Name, (uint)VSSEARCHSTARTTYPE.SST_INSTANT);
}

Test the new setting by rebuilding the solution and restarting the debugger.

Search results appear every time that you enter a character in the search box.

In the ProvideSearchSettings method, add the following line, which enables the display of a progress bar.

Utilities.SetValue(pSearchSettings, SearchSettingsDataSource.SearchProgressTypeProperty.Name, CUInt(VSSEARCHPROGRESSTYPE.SPT_DETERMINATE))

Utilities.SetValue(pSearchSettings, SearchSettingsDataSource.SearchProgressTypeProperty.Name, (uint)VSSEARCHPROGRESSTYPE.SPT_DETERMINATE);

For the progress bar to appear, the progress must be reported. To report the progress, uncomment the following code in the OnStartSearch method of the TestSearchTask class:

SearchCallback.ReportProgress(Me, progress, CUInt(contentArr.GetLength(0)))
progress += 1

SearchCallback.ReportProgress(this, progress++, (uint)contentArr.GetLength(0));

To slow processing enough that the progress bar is visible, uncomment the following line in the OnStartSearch method of the TestSearchTask class:
```
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100)
```
```
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100);
```
Test the new settings by rebuilding the solution and restarting the debugger.

The progress bar appears in the search window every time that you perform a search.

Comment out this line in the OnStartSearch method:

' System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100)

// System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100);

To enable users to refine their searches

You can allow users to refine their searches by means of options such as Match case or Match whole word. Options can be boolean, which appear as check boxes, or commands, which appear as buttons. For this walkthrough, you’ll create a boolean option.

In the MyToolWindow.cs or .vb file, add the following code to the MyToolWindow class. The code overrides the SearchOptionsEnum method, which allows the search implementation to detect whether a given option is on or off. The code in SearchOptionsEnum adds an option to match case to an IVsEnumWindowSearchOptions enumerator. The option to match case is also made available as the MatchCaseOption property.

Private m_optionsEnum As IVsEnumWindowSearchOptions
Public Overrides ReadOnly Property SearchOptionsEnum() As IVsEnumWindowSearchOptions
    Get 
        If m_optionsEnum Is Nothing Then 
            Dim list As New List(Of IVsWindowSearchOption)()

            list.Add(Me.MatchCaseOption)

            m_optionsEnum = TryCast(New WindowSearchOptionEnumerator(list), IVsEnumWindowSearchOptions)
        End If 

        Return m_optionsEnum
    End Get 
End Property 

Private m_matchCaseOption As WindowSearchBooleanOption
Public ReadOnly Property MatchCaseOption
    Get 
        If m_matchCaseOption Is Nothing Then
            m_matchCaseOption = New WindowSearchBooleanOption("Match case", "Match case", False)
        End If 

        Return m_matchCaseOption
    End Get 
End Property

private IVsEnumWindowSearchOptions m_optionsEnum;
public override IVsEnumWindowSearchOptions SearchOptionsEnum
{
    get
    {
        if (m_optionsEnum == null)
        {
            List<IVsWindowSearchOption> list = new List<IVsWindowSearchOption>();

            list.Add(this.MatchCaseOption);

            m_optionsEnum = new WindowSearchOptionEnumerator(list) as IVsEnumWindowSearchOptions;
        }
        return m_optionsEnum;
    }
}

private WindowSearchBooleanOption m_matchCaseOption;
public WindowSearchBooleanOption MatchCaseOption
{
    get
    {
        if (m_matchCaseOption == null)
        {
            m_matchCaseOption = new WindowSearchBooleanOption("Match case", "Match case", false);
        }
        return m_matchCaseOption;
    }
}

In the TestSearchTask class, uncomment the following line in the OnStartSearch method:

matchCase = m_toolWindow.MatchCaseOption.Value

matchCase = m_toolWindow.MatchCaseOption.Value;

Test the option by performing the following steps:.
1. Rebuild the solution, and restart the debugger.
2. In the tool window, choose the Down arrow on the search control.
  
  The Match case check box appears.
3. Select the Match case check box, and then perform some searches.

You can add search filters that allow users to refine the set of search targets. For example, you can filter files in File Explorer by the dates on which they were modified most recently and their file name extensions. In this walkthrough, you’ll add a filter for even lines only. When the user chooses that filter, the search host adds the strings that you specify to the search query. You can then identify these strings inside your search method and filter the search targets accordingly.

In the MyToolWindow.cs or .vb file, add the following code to the MyToolWindow class. The code implements SearchFiltersEnum in the MyToolWindow class by adding a WindowSearchSimpleFilter that specifies to filter the search results so that only even lines appear.

Public Overrides ReadOnly Property SearchFiltersEnum() As IVsEnumWindowSearchFilters
    Get 
        Dim list As New List(Of IVsWindowSearchFilter)()
        list.Add(New WindowSearchSimpleFilter("Search even lines only", "Search even lines only", "lines", "even"))
        Return TryCast(New WindowSearchFilterEnumerator(list), IVsEnumWindowSearchFilters)
    End Get 
End Property

public override IVsEnumWindowSearchFilters SearchFiltersEnum
{
    get
    {
        List<IVsWindowSearchFilter> list = new List<IVsWindowSearchFilter>();
        list.Add(new WindowSearchSimpleFilter("Search even lines only", "Search even lines only", "lines", "even"));
        return new WindowSearchFilterEnumerator(list) as IVsEnumWindowSearchFilters;
    }
}

Now the search control displays the search filter Search even lines only. When the user chooses the filter, the string lines:"even" appears in the search box. Other search criteria can appear at the same time as the filter. Search strings may appear before the filter, after the filter, or both.

In the MyToolWindow.cs or .vb file, add the following methods to the TestSearchTask class, which is in the MyToolWindow class. These methods support the OnStartSearch method, which you’ll modify in the next step.

Private Function RemoveFromString(ByVal origString As String, ByVal stringToRemove As String) As String 
    Dim index As Integer = origString.IndexOf(stringToRemove)
    If index = -1 Then 
        Return origString
    Else 
        Return origString.Substring(0, index) & origString.Substring(index + stringToRemove.Length)
    End If 
End Function 

Private Function GetEvenItems(ByVal contentArr As String()) As String()
    Dim length As Integer = contentArr.Length \ 2
    Dim evenContentArr = New String(length) {}

    Dim indexB = 0
    For index = 1 To contentArr.Length - 1 Step 2
        evenContentArr(indexB) = contentArr(index)
        indexB += 1
    Next 

    Return evenContentArr
End Function

private string RemoveFromString(string origString, string stringToRemove)
{
    int index = origString.IndexOf(stringToRemove);
    if (index == -1)
        return origString;
    else 
        return origString.Substring(0, index) + origString.Substring(index + stringToRemove.Length);
}

private string[] GetEvenItems(string[] contentArr)
{
    int length = contentArr.Length / 2;
    string[] evenContentArr = new string[length];

    int indexB = 0;
    for (int index = 1; index < contentArr.Length; index += 2)
    {
        evenContentArr[indexB] = contentArr[index];
        indexB++;
    }

    return evenContentArr;
}

In the TestSearchTask class, update the OnStartSearch method with the following code. This change updates the code to support the filter.

Protected Overrides Sub OnStartSearch()
    ' Use the original content of the text box as the target of the search. 
    Dim separator = New String() {Environment.NewLine}
    Dim contentArr As String() = DirectCast(m_toolWindow.Content, MyControl).SearchContent.Split(separator, StringSplitOptions.None)

    ' Get the search option. 
    Dim matchCase As Boolean = False
    matchCase = m_toolWindow.MatchCaseOption.Value

    ' Set variables that are used in the finally block. 
    Dim sb As New StringBuilder("")
    Dim resultCount As UInteger = 0
    Me.ErrorCode = VSConstants.S_OK

    Try 
        Dim searchString As String = Me.SearchQuery.SearchString

        ' If the search string contains the filter string, filter the content array. 
        Dim filterString = "lines:""even""" 

        If searchString.Contains(filterString) Then 
            ' Retain only the even items in the array.
            contentArr = GetEvenItems(contentArr)

            ' Remove 'lines:"even"' from the search string.
            searchString = RemoveFromString(searchString, filterString)
        End If 

        ' Determine the results. 
        Dim progress As UInteger = 0
        For Each line As String In contentArr
            If matchCase = True Then 
                If line.Contains(searchString) Then
                    sb.AppendLine(line)
                    resultCount += 1
                End If 
            Else 
                If line.ToLower().Contains(searchString.ToLower()) Then
                    sb.AppendLine(line)
                    resultCount += 1
                End If 
            End If

            SearchCallback.ReportProgress(Me, progress, CUInt(contentArr.GetLength(0)))
            progress += 1

            ' Uncomment the following line to demonstrate the progress bar. 
            ' System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100) 
        Next 
    Catch e As Exception
        Me.ErrorCode = VSConstants.E_FAIL
    Finally
        ThreadHelper.Generic.Invoke(
            Sub()
                DirectCast(DirectCast(m_toolWindow.Content, MyControl).SearchResultsTextBox, TextBox).Text = sb.ToString()
            End Sub)

        Me.SearchResults = resultCount
    End Try 

    ' Call the implementation of this method in the base class. 
    ' This sets the task status to complete and reports task completion. 
    MyBase.OnStartSearch()
End Sub

protected override void OnStartSearch()
{
    // Use the original content of the text box as the target of the search. 
    var separator = new string[] { Environment.NewLine };
    string[] contentArr = ((MyControl)m_toolWindow.Content).SearchContent.Split(separator, StringSplitOptions.None);

    // Get the search option. 
    bool matchCase = false;
    matchCase = m_toolWindow.MatchCaseOption.Value;

    // Set variables that are used in the finally block.
    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("");
    uint resultCount = 0;
    this.ErrorCode = VSConstants.S_OK;

    try
    {
        string searchString = this.SearchQuery.SearchString;

        // If the search string contains the filter string, filter the content array. 
        string filterString = "lines:\"even\"";


        if (this.SearchQuery.SearchString.Contains(filterString))
        {
            // Retain only the even items in the array.
            contentArr = GetEvenItems(contentArr);

            // Remove 'lines:"even"' from the search string.
            searchString = RemoveFromString(searchString, filterString);
        }

        // Determine the results. 
        uint progress = 0;
        foreach (string line in contentArr)
        {
            if (matchCase == true)
            {
                if (line.Contains(searchString))
                {
                    sb.AppendLine(line);
                    resultCount++;
                }
            }
            else
            {
                if (line.ToLower().Contains(searchString.ToLower()))
                {
                    sb.AppendLine(line);
                    resultCount++;
                }
            }

            SearchCallback.ReportProgress(this, progress++, (uint)contentArr.GetLength(0));

            // Uncomment the following line to demonstrate the progress bar. 
            // System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(100);
        }
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        this.ErrorCode = VSConstants.E_FAIL;
    }
    finally
    {
        ThreadHelper.Generic.Invoke(() =>
        { ((TextBox)((MyControl)m_toolWindow.Content).SearchResultsTextBox).Text = sb.ToString(); });

        this.SearchResults = resultCount;
    }

    // Call the implementation of this method in the base class. 
    // This sets the task status to complete and reports task completion. 
    base.OnStartSearch();
}

If you want to test your code, rebuild the solution, restart the debugger, and then perform the remaining steps in this procedure.
In the experimental instance of Visual Studio, open the tool window, and then choose the Down arrow on the search control.

The Match case check box and the Search even lines only filter appear.
Choose the filter.

The search box contains lines:”even”, and the following results appear:

2 good

4 Good

6 Goodbye
Delete lines:"even" from the search box, select the Match case check box, and then enter g in the search box.

The following results appear:

1 go

2 good

5 goodbye
Choose the X on the right side of the search box.

The search is cleared, and the original contents appear. However, the Match case check box is still selected.

Share via

Walkthrough: Adding Search to a Tool Window

To create a VSPackage project

To create a tool window

To add the search implementation

To customize the search behavior

To enable users to refine their searches

To add a search filter

See Also

Tasks

Other Resources

Additional resources

Share via

Walkthrough: Adding Search to a Tool Window

To create a VSPackage project

To create a tool window

To add a search box to the tool window

To add the search implementation

To customize the search behavior

To enable users to refine their searches

To add a search filter

See Also

Tasks

Other Resources

Additional resources