Download this extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace or get the CI build.
A comprehensive language service for .pkgdef and .pkgundef files that brings modern IDE features to Visual Studio extension development. Write registry configurations faster, catch errors before they cause problems, and keep your code clean with automatic formatting and refactoring.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 🎨 Syntax Highlighting | Color-coded elements for easy reading |
| 💡 IntelliSense | Smart completions for variables, registry keys, and values |
| 11 different error checks with detailed messages | |
| 🔧 Quick Fixes | One-click fixes for common errors |
| ✨ Refactoring | Sort properties and add default values |
| 📁 Outlining | Collapse sections for better overview |
| 🗺️ Document Outline | Navigate registry keys in the Document Outline window |
| 📝 Formatting | Consistent code style with one keystroke |
Color-coded syntax makes it easy to parse your documents at a glance. Registry keys, property names, values, variables, and comments are all distinctly styled.
Rich completions throughout your .pkgdef files to speed up development and reduce errors:
| Context | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Variables | Type $ to see all predefined variables ($RootKey$, $PackageFolder$, $RootFolder$, etc.) |
| Registry Keys | Path suggestions based on your current location in the registry hive |
| Property Names | Common property names after defining a registry key |
| Property Values | Value types (dword:, qword:, hex:), strings, GUIDs, and more |
Comprehensive validation catches mistakes before they cause runtime issues:
| Category | Checks |
|---|---|
| Syntax | Unclosed brackets, missing quotes, forward slashes in paths, unknown tokens |
| Variables | Undefined variables, missing $ delimiters, typos in variable names |
| Registry Values | DWORD (8 hex chars), QWORD (16 hex chars), HEX arrays (comma-separated bytes) |
| Semantics | Duplicate registry keys, quoted @ for default values |
For detailed information about each validation error, including examples and fixes, see the Error Reference.
Press Ctrl+. on any error to see available one-click fixes:
| Error | Quick Fix |
|---|---|
| PL002 - Unclosed registry key | Add closing ] |
| PL003 - Forward slashes | Convert / to \ |
| PL004 - Quoted @ sign | Remove quotes ("@" → @) |
| PL005 - Unquoted property name | Surround with quotes |
| PL005 - Unclosed string | Add closing " |
| PL006 - Unknown variable | Suggest similar variable name |
| PL007 - Unclosed variable | Add closing $ |
| PL008 - Duplicate registry key | Consolidate all properties under first occurrence |
Beyond error fixes, the extension offers refactoring actions to improve your code:
- Add default value - Insert
@=""for registry keys missing a default value - Sort properties - Alphabetically sort properties with
@always first
Access refactoring actions with Ctrl+. when your cursor is on a registry key.
Hover over elements for contextual information:
- Variables - See descriptions and resolved values for predefined variables like
$RootKey$ - Errors - View detailed error messages with clickable error codes that link to documentation
Collapse registry key sections to get a better overview of large documents. Each registry key with its properties forms a collapsible region.
Note: Only comments starting with a semicolon (
;) are correctly identified as comments, not those starting with//.
The Document Outline window provides a hierarchical view of all registry keys in your .pkgdef file for quick navigation:
- View → Other Windows → Document Outline (or
Ctrl+Alt+T) - Click any registry key to jump directly to its location
- Automatically syncs with your cursor position in the editor
This is especially useful for large .pkgdef files with many registry entries.
Format your entire document with Ctrl+K, Ctrl+D or just a selection with Ctrl+K, Ctrl+F:
- Adds consistent line breaks between registry key entries
- Trims unnecessary whitespace
- Ensures consistent indentation
If you enjoy using the extension, please give it a ★★★★★ rating on the Visual Studio Marketplace.
Found a bug or have a feature request? Head over to the GitHub repo to open an issue.
Pull requests are welcome! This is a personal passion project, so contributions help keep it moving forward.
You can also sponsor me on GitHub to support ongoing development.