Class modifier for automatically generated classes

Question

When I add a new class to a project, the class modifier/access specifier for the newly created class in Visual Studio is ommitted, thereby making it internal.

Is there a way I can specify in Visual Studio settings that whenever I ask for a new class to be created, please make the class public?

I looked in the Tools->Options menu but couldn't find anything. I am guessing it could be in the Templates folder in the My Documents\Visual Studio xxxx folder.

Answer 1

Yes, you can change the file templates (or simply provide secondary file templates), like so. However, before you do that, I would ask myself: does it really take that much effort to add the desired accessibility? I tend to err on the side of the pragmatic when it comes to this... if I wanted significantly different templates, I might do it. Otherwise... meh.

Answer 2

You would have to create your own template to do this, or use code snippets, or perhaps a tool like ReSharper, which has its own snippet mechanism.

However, this is likely to be a bad idea. You will be making things public that do not need to be public. You're better off starting everything as internal, and making them public only as required.

Answer 3

A quick search turned up this:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/873411/prevent-visual-studio-from-adding-default-references-and-usings-for-new-classes

The answer demonstrates that you can change the default class template.

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

If you omit the modifier on a class it is either:

• internal (non-nested classes)
• private (on nested classes)

I just thought I'd throw that out there (that it's not ALWAYS internal if omitted).

---

But, if you really want to change templates you'll want to generally go to the installation folder (I'll use the default folders):

*C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE*

In there, you will find the various template folders. You're looking for the following (if you dig deeper): C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\ItemTemplates\CSharp\Code\1033\Class.zip

Just alter the Class.cs file in there. Oh, and in case you mess it up here's the original version:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
$if$ ($targetframeworkversion$ >= 3.5)using System.Linq;
$endif$using System.Text;

namespace $rootnamespace$
{
    class $safeitemrootname$
    {
    }
}

You're desired version:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
$if$ ($targetframeworkversion$ >= 3.5)using System.Linq;
$endif$using System.Text;

namespace $rootnamespace$
{
    public class $safeitemrootname$
    {
    }
}