Visual Studio Directive Macro

The following is the instructions on how to set up an automated macro for formatting using directives. The motivation is that this is a recurring problem that have bugged me for a while.

1. Get the macros plugin for visual studio

Run VSMacros.vsix and apply to the Visual Studio version you’re using.
Link to the original source

2. Write a macro to reorder the directives.

Step 1. Open Visual Studio, then go to Tools>Macros>Macro Explorer

Step 2. Create a new macro by right-clicking the Macro Browser, then List > New Macro. You can name the macro whatever you want.

Step 3. Open the macro by right-clicking on its name and selecting Open. Copy paste the macro from the file RemoveAndSortDirective.js.

3. Adjust Visual Studio preferences for using Directives

Step 1. Go to Tools>Options

Step 2. Type C# in the search box, under C#, select advanced. Look for Using Directives section and check the following:
* Place System directives first when sorting usings * Separate using directive groups

When you are done, click Ok.

4. [Optional] Set up a hotkey for the macro

Step 1. Right click the macro you have just written, and select Assign Shortcut.

Step 2. Assign a binding to the macro. For the purpose of this tutorial, we will assign to Ctrl+M, 1.

Step 3. To further customize your shortcut, go to Tools>Options.

Step 4. Type keyboard into the search box, then select Keyboard. Look for Tools.MacroCommandx, where x is the number you selected in Step 2.

Step 5. Click in the Press shortcut keys box, then press a shortcut combination of your choice. When you are done, click Ok.

And now you are done! Run the macro whenever you need to. Just be warned that the macro is UI-based and currently loops through all files, so you might have to wait a while, or write your own macro :)