Binaryworld - Transform a variable into a Property ... [ VB.net -> IDE ]

Thanks to Visual Studio.NET macros, it is quite simple to automate the task of transforming a Public field into a Property with the same name that accesses a private field of the same type.

Press Alt-F11 (or invoke the Macro IDE from the Tools|Macros submenu, select one macro module in the left-most treeview, and double-click on it to bring up the corresponding code module. Now cut and paste the following procedure:

Click here to copy the following block

Sub MorphVariableIntoProperty()
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.StartOfLine _
    (vsStartOfLineOptions.vsStartOfLineOptionsFirstText)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.WordRight(True)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Delete()
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Text = "Private m_"
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.EndOfLine(True)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Copy()
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.EndOfLine()
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.NewLine(2)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Text = "Public Property "
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Paste()
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.NewLine()
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.LineUp(False, 2)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.StartOfLine _
    (vsStartOfLineOptions.vsStartOfLineOptionsFirstText)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.WordRight(False, 2)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.WordRight(True)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Copy()
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.LineDown(False, 2)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Indent(2)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Text = "Return m_"
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Paste()
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.LineDown(False, 3)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Indent(2)
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Text = "m_"
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Paste()
  DTE.ActiveDocument.Selection.Text = "= Value"
End Sub

Next, bring up the Tools-Options dialog box, go to Keyboard page, and assign a shortcut key combination to the Morph§VariableIntoProperty macro. Notice that the list of macros contains complete macro names, that are prefixed by their module name. For example, you can assign the following key combination (two keystrokes): Ctrl-Shift-M, Ctrl-Shift-P. To reduce the odds of clashing with other macros, you can reduce the macro's visibility to the text editor.
Now you're ready. Let's say that you have the following variable declaration:

Click here to copy the following block

Dim Length As Single

Position the caret anywhere on the DIM statement and press the shortcut assigned to the macro defined above. In a few instants Visual Studio renames the variable into m_Length, makes it private, and adds a Public property named Length:

Click here to copy the following block

Private m_Length As Single

  Public Property Length() As Single
    Get
      Return m_Length
    End Get
    Set(ByVal Value As Single)
      m_Length = Value
    End Set
  End Property

Notice that this macro heavily relies on Visual Studio's ability to create a Property procedure template when you press the Enter key on a Property declaration. If this feature is disabled, the macro won't work.