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Metadata search in Visual Studio

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This article describes how to use metadata search to search your code and metadata for any patterns and content.

Given the large volume of the code base and metadata, you often need to find things in the code that meet certain criteria. For example, you might not know the name of the metadata element that contains the pattern or meets the criteria. Visual Studio exposes metadata search through two user interfaces: the Metadata Search tool window and the Navigate To window.

Metadata Search tool window

You can access the Metadata Search tool window from the Dynamics 365 > Metadata Search menu command. Enter your search query to start the search. Results start populating in the window asynchronously as you type. You can double-click any result line to go to the corresponding X++ code or metadata that matches your search query.

Screenshot of the Metadata search tool window showing search results.

You can also select one or more results, right-click, and then add these elements to a project. You don't need to wait for the search to complete before you start interacting with the search results.

Screenshot of the context menu to add search results to a new project from metadata search.

Invoke the Navigate To window by pressing Ctrl+‘,’ (the comma character) shortcut keys. Pressing Ctrl+‘,’ displays the query entry box in top-right corner of the Visual Studio main document window. You can also access the Navigate To window from the Visual Studio Edit menu. Enter your search query and see the results appear as you type. A progress indicator stops when the search is complete. You don't need to wait for the search to complete to start interacting with the results.

Screenshot of the Navigate To window displaying search results in Visual Studio.

Search query syntax

This section describes the search query syntax and provides example queries.

Syntax

The search query is a search string that consists of a set of filters in this general form:

<filter_1>:<filter_1_value> [<filter_2>:<filter_2_value> … [ <filter_N>:<filter_N\_value>]]

Where <filter_i> is one of the acceptable filter names, and <filter_i_value> are comma-separated (and possibly quoted) filtering values.

Filter names

  • Name: Filter by element name. This is the default filter, so if you just type a filter value, it's assumed to be an element name. Each comma-separated value is an acceptable element name.

  • Type: Filter by element type. Each comma-separated value should be the name of an element or subelement type (root type or subtype) such as table, class, or field. The logic of filtering is:

    (roottype_1 OR roottype_2 OR … OR roottype_N) AND (subtype_1 OR subtype_2 OR … OR subtype_N)

  • Model: Filter by model name. Each comma-separated value should be the name of a model in your application.

  • Property: Apply property filters. Each comma-separated value should be in the form property_name=property_value.

  • Code: Filter using code snippets. Use quotes around code snippets. The matching source code is the elements that contain the specified code snippet.

You can get help about using filters and filter syntax by opening the drop-down menu available in the search box.

Screenshot of the metadata search filter button and drop-down menu in the search box.

Examples

Query string What it does
TrvExpTable If the token is by itself, it is assumed to be the name. So this will find everything in the application that has "TrvExpTable" in the name.
type:form ccount Finds all forms that have "ccount" in their names.
type:form property:formtemplate=listpage Finds all forms that contain the property "FormTemplate" equal to ListPage.
type:table,formDesign property:"WorkflowDataSource=TrvExpTable" Finds formDesign nodes under tables, but doesn't find anything.
type:form,formmenufunctionbuttoncontrol property:Text=@SYS311998 Finds all menu function button controls with the Text property equal to (a label) @SYS311998.
type:table,method name:insert Finds tables with a method containing "insert" in the method name.
type:table,tableindex name:Export Finds tables with an index name containing the word "Export".
type:table,tableindexfield name:xpNum Finds table indexes with "xpNum" in the index field name.
type:table,tablefieldgroup name:EPNew Finds FieldGroups (in tables) containing EPNew in their names.
type:form,formgridcontrol property:allowedit=no,heightmode=column Finds form grid controls, with properties allowedit equal to no and heightmode equal to column.
type:form,formtabcontrol property:arrangeMethod=Vertical,ViewEditMode=view,WidthMode=Auto Finds form tab controls, with properties arrangeMethod equal to Vertical and ViewEditMode equal to view and WidthMode equal to Auto.
type:form,formDesign property:"WorkflowDataSource=TrvExpTable" Finds all forms with the "WorkflowDataSource" property in the FormDesign node set to the value TrvExpTable.
model:”Application Suite” type:formdesign property:style=simplelistdetail Find all forms in Application Suite model that has the style property set to simpleListDetail in the FormDesign node.
code:"return null" Finds all places in the source code that contains "return null".
code:"element.lock()" type:form Finds all places in the forms source code that contain the snippet "element.lock()".
code:"insert" type:table,form Finds all places in the source code of either forms or tables that contain "insert".
code:"public display" type:form,method Finds all form methods that contain the code "public display".
type:formbuttoncontrol property:text= Finds all form Button Controls that have empty text properties.
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