visual studio .net documentation: Anyone else find the help in VS7 to be inexplicable?

Search for "FileTimeToSystemTime".. a platform SDK function
with the filter "Visual C++ and Related".

You get,

Example Code for Binding to a Partitions Container
Example Code for Reading Properties
Example Code for Searching for Users
....

You don't get the SDK reference. With no filter, it
comes up but only after,

Registry Microsoft Entries for SQL Server 2000 Analysis
Services

Do they really think that is the most likely doc someone
is after when they search for FileTimeToSystemTime?

Virtually every search doesn't return what you expect
at the top of the list. For instance, you search for
"CString". You'd expect to get the CString overview
or class members. Instead you get,

CString Operations Relating to C-Style String
String Data Management
Basic CString Operations
....

Not one of the 500 topics found is what you'd want. Of
course you can find a link on all those pages that go
where you want, but it is maddening.

Don't even get me started on "Dynamic Help". Has anyone
found that utility to be anything other than a nuisance?

Hi Drea

Thanks for the feedback about help

Which version of Help documentation do you currently have
I tried this search in the January 2004 version of the MSDN Library and I got the exact topic for FileTimeToSystemTime as my only result
I didn't get the extra results that you listed

This topic is tagged as a PSDK topic, not specifically C++, so it will show up under the 'No Filter' setting or under the 'PSDK' filter
But it will not appear in the C++ filte

You could create a custom filter that included all C++ topics and PSDK topics in one filter if you would like
Use the Edit Filters page under Help > Edit Filters

Darren Parke

I'm using the original MSDN Lib that came with VS.net (probably the 2001 version)
I could try upgrading the help, perhaps it has improved.

My main point is the default ranking of topics is off. You should figure out what th
most common type of help object that people are after and give that high priority
My guess is that 90% of help queries within Visual Studio are looking for API references
or data structure definitions. Technical articles, overviews, Concepts, Magazines,
sample code should get a lower ranking

Yes. I know that help is infinitely configurable, but I'm not looking for a ne
development project customizing help. The filters are numerous and really difficul
figure out. Do I want the DocSet of "Win32 API" or "Platform SDK" when I want
::GetWindowText?? *shrug*. The only way to deal with it is to spend time
experimenting (which I've done) or just go to "no filter (which is a lot easier)
I tried to integrate the DDK docs into visual studio... *big big sigh*.
That is 6 hours I want back.

What I'd like is for help to have reasonable defaults, not more knobs and switches

Thanks for the response though.

-Drea

Can i give my feedback on VS.NET Help ???

if i push the F1 key over the word "WriteLine" in a
Console.WriteLine() statement i get msi windows installer pop-up
dialogs viewing some content in the msdn July 2003 library.
This only happens when I'm running under a non-administrator account
as microsoft recommends for development work with .net.

If i deinstall the VS.NET 2003 and use the MSDN documentation directly
all works.

I'm using the july 2003 MSDN within VS.NET Professional. I've tried
full-install and custom install
with no difference -- only running as admin works.
The wwwroot$ is shared and explicit permissions for the
non-admin user has also been enabled.

Here's the messages that pop up.

Preparing to install ...
Gathering required information
Please wait while Windows configures Visual Studio.NET
Professional 2003 - Italian
Error 1606: Could not access network location wwwroot$:
Unable to get security info for this object.
Error 1606. Could not access network location VS
Developers (could not create group)

It's happened everytime.
If i use the Administrative account all work and it's works even if i
give to the user the PowerUser privilege, call the help, and than go
back to the "normal user" privilege again.
Someone can help me ??
Thanks a lot
Stefano


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