53.3. Macros IDE

The Visual Studio Macros IDE is an IDE very similar to the Visual Studio IDE but independent from it. The Macros IDE has the same look and feel as the Visual Studio IDE, as you can see in Figure 53-2.

Figure 53.2. Figure 53-2

The Visual Studio Macros IDE is independent from the Visual Studio IDE. It has a similar look and feel but can't run as a stand-alone program and can only be loaded via Visual Studio.

The Macros IDE has some user interface elements that are similar to what you have in the Visual Studio IDE. Working with this IDE is similar to working with the main Visual Studio IDE, and you don't need to worry about it. There are some windows like Toolbox, Properties, Task List, and Error List that do the same things as those windows in the main IDE.

You can create macro projects to develop a macro in this IDE or open existing macros to edit them in the editor.

There is a Project Explorer window that works like Solution Explorer in the main Visual Studio IDE and provides more functionality than Macro Explorer in the Visual Studio IDE.