Is the Macro feature removed in Visual Studio 2022

Question

Is the Macro feature removed in Visual Studio 2022

BenTam-3003 686

Dear All,

Is the Macro feature in Visual Studio 2019 removed (i.e., doesn't exist) in Visual Studio 2022?

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 34,811 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-02-03T09:25:51.087+00:00

Hi @BenTam-3003 , what kind of Macro feature do you mean? Could you share some screenshots or could you describe this feature? I guess, you mean the feature that this extension(Macros for Visual Studio) provide? If yes, I’m afraid, currently there is no corresponding extension which adapts VS 2022.
Paul Carpenter 10 Reputation points

2024-06-14T19:42:47.6633333+00:00

I miss VS macros. In my opinion, a good macro language is simple and macros can be created using a record mechanism with possible edits after saving. The point of most macros is to replace several minutes of typing, a step beyond RegEx replace.When VS had macros they tried implementing most of VB into it, and each new version of VVB had significant breaking changes. It was way too complicated. It was too complicated for users to keep having to rewrite all the macros each time VS updated, and apparently too complicated for MS developers to keep working on.

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Tianyu Sun-MSFT 34,811 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-02-03T09:25:51.087+00:00

Hi @BenTam-3003 , what kind of Macro feature do you mean? Could you share some screenshots or could you describe this feature? I guess, you mean the feature that this extension(Macros for Visual Studio) provide? If yes, I’m afraid, currently there is no corresponding extension which adapts VS 2022.
Paul Carpenter 10 Reputation points

2024-06-14T19:42:47.6633333+00:00

I miss VS macros. In my opinion, a good macro language is simple and macros can be created using a record mechanism with possible edits after saving. The point of most macros is to replace several minutes of typing, a step beyond RegEx replace.When VS had macros they tried implementing most of VB into it, and each new version of VVB had significant breaking changes. It was way too complicated. It was too complicated for users to keep having to rewrite all the macros each time VS updated, and apparently too complicated for MS developers to keep working on.

Answer 1

Viorel 126.7K

It seems that VBA macros were removed in Visual Studio 2012 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Visual_Studio#2012) . You can write extensions and Add-ins in C#.

BenTam-3003 686 Reputation points

2022-02-01T14:14:01.69+00:00

@Viorel

Thanks for your reply. The product I mentioned is 2022 rather than 2012.
Viorel 126.7K Reputation points

2022-02-02T08:22:03.357+00:00

It is not available in 2022 because it was removed in 2012.
BenTam-3003 686 Reputation points

2022-02-02T09:45:56.307+00:00

Hi @Viorel

However, I still found this feature, i.e., macro, in version 2019.

Answer 2

Bryan B 6

As stated, the Macro features were removed back in 2012. There have been a variety of paid-for and free replacements (none as good as the original in my opinion). There is a Microsoft provided extension you can install up to 2019, but it doesn't work in 2022 (I just tried). I'm currently in process of finding an alternate.

I don't understand why Microsoft thinks this functionality isn't useful, or perhaps they just think third-party makes better options, but I was perfectly happy with the one they removed.

Answer 3

Michel Chassey 0

Hello all, my solution is a real kludge but it works for me.

Here it is : I code in an emacs buffer. Fantastic ;) then paste it in an empty main.cpp (or whatever) file compile and let VS do its magic. Kudo to Stalhman . If my code works, save it and live to fight another day.

Don't hate me too much.

Answer 4

Jeff Sipko 1

In case, like me, you were thinking of the other $(variable) macros, Microsoft has renamed that feature in 2022 to MSBuild Properties. See this page for more info: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/ide/how-to-specify-build-events-csharp?view=vs-2022#macros

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Is the Macro feature removed in Visual Studio 2022

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