How to Change Generate Method Stub to Throw NotImplementedException in Visual Studio

Visual Studio is a powerful development environment that comes with many useful features to enhance productivity. One of these features is the ability to Generate Method Stub, which can simplify the process of implementing methods. However, the default behavior of generating stubs can sometimes be less than ideal for developers.

The Problem

When you create a method stub using Visual Studio, the default implementation looks like this:

throw new Exception("The method or operation is not implemented.");

This isn’t always the most informative or helpful approach when you’re developing a new method. Instead, many developers prefer to use:

throw new NotImplementedException();

The NotImplementedException clearly indicates that a method has not yet been implemented, which can be particularly useful for readability and debugging purposes.

The Solution: Customizing the Method Stub

Fortunately, you can customize the way Visual Studio generates method stubs to change this behavior. Below, we’ll walk through the steps to modify the generated code so that it throws NotImplementedException.

Step 1: Locate the Code Snippet File

To change the generated method stub, you’ll need to edit the relevant code snippet file. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the following directory on your computer:

   C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC#\Snippets\1033\Refactoring\
   

2. Look for the file named MethodStub.snippet. This file contains the code template that Visual Studio uses to generate method stubs.

Step 2: Edit the Snippet File

To customize the exception thrown in the method stubs, you will need to modify the Declarations section of the MethodStub.snippet file. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open MethodStub.snippet using a text editor.
2. Locate the following section:

<Declarations>
    <Literal Editable="true">
        <ID>signature</ID>
        <Default>signature</Default>
    </Literal>
    <Literal>
        <ID>Exception</ID>
        <Function>SimpleTypeName(global::System.Exception)</Function>
    </Literal>
</Declarations>

3. Change it to the following:

<Declarations>
    <Literal Editable="true">
        <ID>signature</ID>
        <Default>signature</Default>
    </Literal>
    <Literal>
        <ID>Exception</ID>
        <Function>SimpleTypeName(global::System.NotImplementedException)</Function>
    </Literal>
</Declarations>

Step 3: Save and Test

After making the necessary changes, save the MethodStub.snippet file. Now, when you generate a method stub in Visual Studio, it will automatically throw NotImplementedException, giving you a clearer indication of unimplemented methods.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can easily customize Visual Studio’s Generate Method Stub feature to enhance your coding workflow. Using NotImplementedException not only makes your code more informative but also aligns better with best coding practices. Enjoy a cleaner and more efficient coding experience with your personalized method stubs!