Code snippet shortcut doesn't work everywhere

Question

I have a code snippet string.Format(@"") with a shortcut sf that inserts the snippet and places the cursor in between the two double quotes. Really convenient. I can normally use it, of course, by just typing sf and hitting tab twice:

However, I've just discovered that the shortcut doesn't work in all locations. For example, if I'm building this statement:

if(true) throw new FormatException() // <-- cursor is inside these parens

and I hit sf, the shortcut does not appear in the intellisense menu, and if I hit Tab twice, it doesn't generate the snippet. Why?

I have tried searching for "C# code snippet shortcut sometimes doesn't work", "C# code snippet shortcut doesn't work", "visual studio code snippet sometimes doesn't work" among others, and I can't find anything useful about it.

EDIT: Here is the snippet definition:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<CodeSnippets xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2005/CodeSnippet">
  <CodeSnippet Format="1.0.0">
    <Header>
      <SnippetTypes>
        <SnippetType>Expansion</SnippetType>
      </SnippetTypes>
      <Title>String.Format with @</Title>
      <Author>Rory</Author>
      <Description>
      </Description>
      <HelpUrl>
      </HelpUrl>
      <Shortcut>sf</Shortcut>
    </Header>
    <Snippet>
      <Declarations>
        <Literal Editable="true">
          <ID>anchor</ID>
          <ToolTip>
          </ToolTip>
          <Default>
          </Default>
          <Function>
          </Function>
        </Literal>
      </Declarations>
      <Code Language="csharp" Delimiter="$" Kind="method body"><![CDATA[string.Format(@"$selected$$end$")]]></Code>
    </Snippet>
  </CodeSnippet>
</CodeSnippets>

Geodynamics

Do any of the default snippets load the intellisense menu? Try "prop" in the same place – Redletter

What does your snippet definition look like? – Outright

That's not relevant -- none of the snippets are available (see my answer to g williams comment, above) – Geodynamics

it actually might, the Snippet's Kind property for example scopes which snippets are active where. I'd expect your snippet to be of kind method body – Outright

How/where did you define the code snippet? – Claritaclarity

@Outright -- You're right about the snippet kind being "method body". The other two available are "type declaration" and "method declaration", neither of which work. Does that mean there are place you just can't use snippets? – Geodynamics

@ThomasWeller -- Using Snippet Designer – Geodynamics

It depends on the kind. As I said before. You can set it to Any so it works anywhere. But I just created my own snippet in 2015 and 2013 and it just works. – Outright

@Outright -- I've edited the question to include the snippet XML. How does it compare to the one that works for you? – Geodynamics

Answer 1

According to the docs the Kind attribute determines where you can use the snippet - you have specified "method body" and you should probably specify "any"

Flag

Answer 2

I just created and tested (in VS2013 and VS2015) my own version of your snippet and it works as expected:

This is what it looks like:



<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<CodeSnippets xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2005/CodeSnippet">
  <CodeSnippet Format="1.0.0">
    <Header>
      <SnippetTypes>
        <SnippetType>Expansion</SnippetType>
      </SnippetTypes>
      <Title>SnippetFile1</Title>
      <Author>[email protected]</Author>
      <Description>
      </Description>
      <HelpUrl>
      </HelpUrl>
      <Shortcut>sf</Shortcut>
    </Header>
    <Snippet>
      <Code Language="csharp" Delimiter="$"><![CDATA[string.Format(@"$end$")]]></Code>
    </Snippet>
  </CodeSnippet>
</CodeSnippets>

For creating and editing Snippets, the Snippet Designer is a must have.

Outright

Thanks, gotta catch a train now but I'll compare this closely to my snippet (see edited question). – Geodynamics

I even tried your snippet -- not working. VS 2013. BTW, I created mine with snippet designer. – Geodynamics

Any Visual Studio updates installed, I'm on 2013 update 5? Any plugins that may interfere with snippets? Like Resharper, CodeRush or something similar? – Outright

Does the code you're editing currently parse/compile without errors? It may be that Intellisense is confused somehow. – Outright

I can't tell if I have any updates installed. It's version 12.0.21005.1 REL. I ran Windows Update but there was nothing for VS (and I do have it set to update all MS software, not just Windows). The code compiles fine. I can repro the issue very easily with just a simple new project. I can't even use the snippet in a line like this: System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print(sf); – Geodynamics

I ran VS in safe mode (no addins) and the snippet still didn't work. – Geodynamics

You should be on 12.0.40629.00 update 5. You can download update 5 from visualstudio.com. – Outright

Okay, I'm all up to date. Running in safe mode. Still not working. No snippet shortcuts are available when the cursor is inside parens (i went through the alphabet just to be sure). – Geodynamics