How to extend IntelliSense items?

Question

I would like to manually extend the IntelliSense list by various items. I want to be responsible for the action triggered by the item (i.e. code completion and tooltip info). It doesn't matter what items.

Is this possible with an VisualStudio add-in, ReSharper / DXCore or any otherg plugin?

Background:

Some of you may know FOP (feature-oriented programming). FOP would require various changes to intellisense and editor behavior.

Edit:

Another interesting post.

Answer 1

This is definitely doable very easily by writing a ReSharper plugin.

• Start by implementing ICodeCompletionItemsProvider which will provide additional IntelliSense items. The easiest way is to inherit from ItemsProviderOfSpecificContext<TContext> (with TContext being CSharpCodeCompletionContext if you're interested in C# code completion).

• Your provider will add the additional items in the implementation of AddLookupItems(). You have the chance to provide a custom implementation of ILookupItem here: the Accept() method of this interface will be called when the user chooses the item in the completion popup. Here is your chance to execute the code you need.

Note that this information is for R# 6.1/7.0. I don't think it is much different in previous versions though. Obviously, you have to enable ReSharper IntelliSense instead of Visual Studio IntelliSense for this to work.

Answer 2

Customized intelliSense for VS2010 XML editor can be added by putting customized xsd files in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Xml\Schemas folder but I guess you are looking for something more.

You should take a look at Creating and Using IntelliSense Code Snippets and decide whether it is what you are looking for. This question on programmers.stockexchange might also be helpful. This question also seems similar which suggests CSharpIntellisensePresenter(Free).

Answer 3

Maybe ReSharper's Live Templates can help you (ReSharper->Live Templates...).