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Functional Automation Groups

  • Article

The automation object model consists of a few broad functional groups of objects that control major facets of the integrated development environment (IDE). Understanding how these groups work makes it easier to understand and use the model.

The objects in these functional groups are fully outlined in Automation Object Model Chart. The groups are:

  • Solution, project, and project item objects.
  • Build objects.
  • Code editor objects.
  • Code definitions manipulation objects.
  • Tool window and document manipulation objects.
  • Tool window-specific objects, such as the Task List, Output window, and Tool Box.
  • Command objects.
  • Debugging objects.
  • Event objects

Each functional group consists of one or more related objects, collections, or interfaces that contribute to a particular purpose. For example, the primary function of the Events object group is to provide access to events occurring in the IDE. One such object in this group is the TaskListEvents object, which allows you to respond to events that occur in the Task List. Another in this group is the BuildEvents object, which allows you to respond to events that occur in a build operation, such as the beginning or completion of a build.

See Also

Automation Object Model Chart | Creating Add-Ins and Wizards | Creating an Add-In | Creating a Wizard | Visual Studio Commands