Forgot how to view TODOs task list in Visual Studio

If you are referring to TODOs that are defined with the // TODO comments.
Open the Task List and set it to the Comments filter.

No exports were found that match the constraint: ContractName

Hit this today trying to load a project.  Every project I fired up would throw this error when I tried to open any file! 

 

Turns out that the issue is a corrupted cache.  You just need to remove this directory

%AppData%\..\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\12.0\ComponentModelCache


Source
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17596543/error-message-no-exports-were-found-that-match-the-constraint-contract-name

Android SDK Tools (rev. 24.3.4) breaks Xamarin.Designer downgrade for Visual Studio

Problem:

Google has released a new version of Android SDK Tools (rev. 24.3.4). This version breaks the Xamarin.Android designer.

How to downgrade?

Downgrade steps

1. Close ALL instances of Visual Studio and/or Xamarin Studio
2. Locate the tools directory in the Android SDK path. One way to find the right directory is to open "Tools -> Open Android SDK Manager" in Xamarin Studio or "Tools -> Android -> Android SDK Manager" in Visual Studio. The tools subdirectory can be found within the "SDK Path" that is displayed at the top of the SDK Manager window.
3. Delete the tools directory.
4. Unzip the tools_r24.3.3*.zip file into the "SDK Path", creating a directory named "tools". Be careful not to create an extra outer "tools" directory when unzipping this file: the top-level "SDK path" should contain tools/android*, not tools/tools/android*.

Downgrade links

Windows

• https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/repository/tools_r24.3.3-windows.zip

Mac

• https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/repository/tools_r24.3.3-macosx.zip

Source:
http://forums.xamarin.com/discussion/48408/warning-android-sdk-tools-rev-v24-3-4#latest

Using Conditional Compilation Symbols

Problem:
I have a Portable Change Library (PCL) as core project in a mobile MVVMCross solution.  The code supports Anrdroid, Windows Phone and iPhone.  I have been trying to compile specific code for use with Windows Phone.  I had the code working but was unsure how to proceed to support the other 2 UIs which use the PCL.

Solution:
I read John Atten's excellent article on how to leverage Conditional Compilation on Visual Studio.
I defined the tag - MVVMCross_WP8 and added that to the build profile for Windows Phone.  I added the tag in the properties > build for the PCL core.


Source:
http://typecastexception.com/post/2012/08/18/Visual-Studio-Use-Conditional-Compilation-to-Control-Runtime-Settings-for-Different-Deployment-Scenarios.aspx

Install NuGet Packages Offline - Visual Studio

Problem:
You are offline and trying to create a VS project with NuGet Package dependencies.
The challenge is how to get them.

Solution:

Use the cached copies on your machine stored at, %LOCALAPPDATA%\NuGet\Cache.

1.) Start Visual Studio and Open the package manager

• Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Package Manager Settings
• Select Package Sources in left hand menu

2.) Add Cache package to package manager.

• Above the Available Package Sources window are 4 icons
• Select the + and this will add a new source
• Highlight the new entry
• Edit the Name field, provide a name of your choosing
• Source field add full path to the NuGet Cache
• Find it by opening a  windows explorer window and typing the path, %LOCALAPPDATA%\NuGet\Cache
• This will resolve to the path to your local cache
• Select Update

3.) Your Done.

WARNING: Realize that this is only valid until you clear your nuget cache.

Source:
http://nuget-offline.blogspot.com/#!

The remote server returned an error: 429 (Xamarin Visual Studio iOS error 429)

Problem:
VS not working (The remote server returned an error: 429)

Solution:
My clocks were off by one hour inspite of showing the same time.  The windows box had an incorrect setting for the timezone UTC+1.  It had been manually advanced by one hour.  This meant that the times between the Windows box running VS and the Mac Host had a difference of 1 hour.
Anything over 3 minutes will throw an error in the compiler.






http://forums.xamarin.com/discussion/17062/vs-not-working-the-remote-server-returned-an-error-429

Installing Xamarin.iOS on Windows

Xamarin site has great how to guides for installing their product for use with Visual Studio.
We are writing our first iPhone app using C#, Xamarin and Mvvmcross.

How to install:

http://developer.xamarin.com/guides/ios/getting_started/installation/windows/#Connecting_to_the_Mac_Build_Host

Arvixe posting instructions for visual Studio

5.) In the Publish method dropdown box select Web Deploy
6.) For the Service URL enter in yourservername.arvixe.com
7.) For the Site/application enter in yoursitename.com
8.) For the User name enter in the username that was under your website’s Management Tab
Example: mywebsitename_admin
9.) For the Password enter the password for the user specified above
10.) For the Destination URL enter your website’s address: http://yourwebsiteaddress.com
11.) Click Validate Connection. If you receive an error here stop and review the previous
information and try again. If successful then click Next >
12.) Select Release in the Configuration dropdown box
13.) In the Databases section you should see the connection string that you added earlier in your
Web.config. Click the dropdown box and select your connection string and also check the Use this
connection string at runtime checkbox. Then click Next >
14.) Preview the files that are about to be deployed to your site and once you’re done click Publish
15.) Congratulations! You have successfully deployed your ASP.NET Site to Arvixe. - See more at: http://blog.arvixe.com/arvixe-asp-net-web-deployment-how-to-guide/#sthash.gPhKWu4V.dpuf

http://blog.arvixe.com/arvixe-asp-net-web-deployment-how-to-guide/