How to Create Code Snippet Using C#

In this article I will discuss how to create a code snippet. Visual Studio allows developers to save snippets of code which can be inserted at a later time. This saves on retyping blocks of code that are used often. I also find it very useful when I have to show code during presentations. Instead of typing everything live, I find it far easier to simply add the code block by block using code snippets.

Fallow the steps to create a code snippet using Visual Studio 2010.



Default Blank XML:

Default snippet generated XML tags:



Modified XML tags.

Add the SQL Connection Code to ![CDATA[]]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<CodeSnippet Format="1.0.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2005/CodeSnippet">
  <Header>
    <Title>SqlInsert</Title>
    <Author>Ravindra</Author>
    <Shortcut>SqlIns</Shortcut>
    <Description>Sql Connection</Description>
    <SnippetTypes>
      <SnippetType>SurroundsWith</SnippetType>
      <SnippetType>Expansion</SnippetType>
    </SnippetTypes>
  </Header>
  <Snippet>
    <Declarations>
      <Literal>
        <ID>message</ID>
        <Default>my function</Default>
      </Literal>
    </Declarations>
    <Code Language="CSharp">
      <![CDATA[
           SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection();
            try
            {
                con.Open();
                SqlCommand cmd = con.CreateCommand();
                cmd.CommandText = "";
                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("", "");
                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("", "");
                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("", "");
                cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
            }
            catch (Exception)
            {
 
                throw;
            }
            finally
            {
                con.Close();
            }]]>
    </Code>
  </Snippet>
</CodeSnippet>

Snippet IntelliSense



Snippet generated C# code