How can I add the VS Command Prompt to Visual Studio 2010 C# Express?
.net, c#, command-prompt, visual-studio, visual-studio-2010
Solution
The VS command prompt is not a standaloneshell, but the standard `cmd.exe` with some EnvironmentVariables setup — through `vcvarsall.bat`
Charmingly, `vcvarsall.bat` only ships with the c++ edition, and resides in the `Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC` folder.
So if you haven’t installed VS c++ Express — and you want to access the shell, you probably have to install VS c++ Express; that’s what I did, anyway.
- Select `Tools >> External Tools` in Visual Studio.
- Click `Add`
- Fill in the Title - I used `Visual Studio Command &Prompt` (`C` is already assigned to Customize)
- Command: `cmd.exe` (should already be on your PATH)
- Arguments: `/k "\path\to\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat"`
- Pick an Initial directory. I used `$(ProjectDir)`
- Click `OK`
I have these notes @ http://www.xradiograph.com/Programming/VisualStudioExpress which were in turn adapted from http://visualbasic.about.com/b/2010/08/17/the-visual-studio-command-prompt.htm and other sources
Problem
When I install "real" editions, the command prompt exists as a tool, but not in the express edition? How can I open the special command prompt, and have easier access to the various command-line tools that ship with Visual Studio and the .NET framework? See Also - Add Command prompt in VS 2008 Express Edition manually - missing some essential steps, and never completely answered; also, 2008 specific - Visual Studio Command Prompt vs. Regular Command Prompt?