How to: Install and Use Sample Files Found in Help
Samples are provided in several ways. Some samples are installed during setup, whereas others are available only on the Web. Sample files may also be embedded in Help topics. For more information, see Locating Sample Files.
You can copy source files for the samples found in Help topics to the computer so that you can open them in Visual Studio. You can also view a sample's non-binary source files directly in Help.
Note
Samples embedded in Help topics are stored in .zip files. You must have software installed on the computer to unzip the files. Windows 2000 does not include an unzip utility, but later versions of Windows do.
Copying Sample Files
You can copy the sample files found in Help topics to the computer so that you can open and modify the samples in the integrated development environment (IDE).
To copy a sample's source files to the computer
In the document window, click Download at the top of the Sample Files list window.
Unzip the sample file.
Note
Depending on the version of the operating system, the sample files might be automatically unzipped for you. You might also be prompted to unzip the files by using a utility. In other cases, you might be required to unzip the files manually.
The files are copied to the location you specified. You can open the sample later, either directly in the IDE or by browsing to the location you specified.
Opening Sample Files in the IDE
After you have copied the sample's files to the computer or network share, you can open the files in the IDE.
To open sample files in the IDE
Start Visual Studio.
On the File menu, point to Open and then click Project/Solution.
In the Open Project dialog box, browse to the location where you saved the sample files and then select the .sln or .*proj file for the sample.
Click Open.
The solution, project, and related files are displayed in Solution Explorer. You can now edit and build the files for the sample.
Viewing Non-binary Source Files
You can open non-binary source files directly.
To view a non-binary sample source file
In the Sample Files list window, select the file that you want to view.
Click View Source at the top of the Sample Files list window.
The contents of the file are displayed in the document window.